THE ARAWA FATALITY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10319, 31 January 1927, Page 6

THE ARAWA FATALITY

HOW “BIG MAC” MET HIS DEATH.

CORONER’S FINDING

The fata] injuries which a native watersider, Meke Matutaera, commonly known as “Big Mac,” received while working a cargo winch on me liner Arawa in the roadstead on me night of January 4, were further investigated by the Coroner, Mr. E. J. Levvey, S.M., on Saturday The police were represented by Sergeant Dempsey, Mr. L. T. Burnard appeared for the widow, and Mr. J. S. Waiiciiop acted on behalf of the owners ol me vessel, the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. A watersider who had been working the winch at which “Big Mac” was injured earlier in the day, Wal-.-r James Constable, declared that e had inspected the gear and adjusted it to ensure its safety, hut, after the accident, he found that the ge?ir as lie arranged it, had been changed. He had, he said, tied back rope to prevent it chafing upon a , ire rope, and when he adjusted it there was no danger of the rope coming into contact with the wire. Cross : examined by Mr. Burnard,

witness agreed that it was not usual o tie back tlie fall rope, but pointed out that this adjustment was neces-

. iry in this case on account of the way the gear was rigged. The rope was not safe on account of chafing to which it was subjected when witness saw it. He did not see the rope had been changed from the position in which he had it until 45 minutes after the accident. '

Questioned by Mr. Wauchop, witness stated that, when lie was operatHg the winch the gear was safe and was all right after the accident. The lighting of the Arawa was satisfacorv, he said, it being usual for the winchmen and hatchmen to adjust lie lights to suit themselves. Thomas O’Connell, who was workg in the hatch in No. 3 hold, stated that, before the watersiders started work, the crew removed the hatches tid they would have had to use the winch to perform this work. The derrick would have to be lifted, and while doing that they would have to .ter the fall rope. The lighting of he Arawa, he said, was much worse than on any other vessel'on which lc had been accustomed to work in the roadstead. There was usually an aft light, a cluster over the side pud two clusters in the hold, but there •is only one light and this was over the side and over the lighter, and shortly before the accident a cluster was placed on the promenade deck. Thilf gave witness more light, but did not help the wincliman. Witness contended that it would have been impossible for the wincliman to see die gear. Questioned by Mr. Burnard, witness declared that the winckmaii could not have seen what was happening to the ropes and gear. The ,vire rope, he said, should never be near the falls. Cross-examined by Mr. Wauchop, witness admitted that the gear might have been in order, but emphasised hat he could not see it. The are light, lie agreed, was a good one. He further admitted that it was customary for the winclimen and hatchmen to adjust- the light to suit themselves. However, he pointed out there was no light to adjust, so witness complained to the chief officer about the unsatisfactory lighting and .as informed that there was not anther light on the ship. One of the •lusters had fused, he said, and he admitted that this might have been the one brought along later. He considered, however, that it did not take in hour to repair a fused light. He admitted that it was not usual for ie men to work on under unsatisfactory -conditions, but, in this case, hey did so under promise that another light would he forthcoming. George Thomas, secretary of the •Gisborne Waterside Workers’ Union, who was engaged on the Arawa on the night “Big Mac” was injured, stated that the accident was not reported to him until the following morning, his lighter having left for the wharf a short time before the mishap. He boarded the Arawa, inspected the running gear for the winches and derricks and found a ,iew rope that had been spliced into te blocks of the starboard derrick. He was informed by two men, who had been working when the derrick .'ell, that a broken rope lying on the deck had been part of the falls. He had been informed by an expert that the piece of the rope was in first class condition and must have been cut by a blunt instrument. There vas grease on the ends of the rope. He also saw that a wire rope running o the midships derrick crossed the falls.

In answer to Air. Burnard, witness -aid that, on seeing grease marks on ' the ends of the fall rope, he had conj eluded that it had been cut through ’ iy the wire rope. s Cross-examined by Air. AVauchop, I witness refused to disclose the name I i the person to whom he sent the piece of rope and would not say who gave him advice concerning it. AVlm the derrick fell, Alexander 3 Stewart was standing by the guy on the starboard side, according to his evidence. A short time afterwards he vent to the derrick and there saw the seamen rigging a new fall, the old fall •ope was iying on the deck and eviientlv having been cut through by he wire rope, as there was grease on the wire rope and also grease on the ■nds of the fall rope, which was cut through to the few last strands which had torn. In view of the likelihood of civil proceedings later, the Coroner said he would return a bare verdict: That Alatutaera died at the Cook Hospital ; on January 15, and that death was ! due to blood infection, secondary to injuries to the right femur and abdominal wall, which injuries were sustained by the deceased on January 1 while working aboard the Arawa and on which date a derrick on the boat fell on him.