INQUEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1924, Page 1

INQUEST.

EXQUIR Y CONCLUDED. The inquest held before Coroner Evans on the death of William Smith McFadyeit on Monday afternoon, was continued yesterday afternoon at o o’clock.

Robert C. Drummond deposed he was a policeman stationed at Kaiiicri. Visited the seeno of the accident in tlie morning in company with Win. Fleming. Was shown the spot where the accident occurred. .Searched for and found the block which was holding the wire rope and found it in the middle of the tram rails about live yards from where the fatality occurred. At the tree to which the block had been attached found the hook of the block broken, the shank of which was lying at the foot of the tree. ’Llie wire rope which had broken away was then lying close to the tram line on which deceased lmd fallen. The distance from whore the block was fixed to where deceased fell was 17 yards. Visited the creek where the log still remained, its nose being under a stone in the lied of the creek. The log would he about iMft long and about 2ft. Gin. to 2ft Din in diameter. It was a white pine log. The wire rope was still attached to the log. The bottom of tlie creek through which the. log was to he drawn was fairly rough. The log had the appearance of being stuck, jammed tightly under n stone in the lied of the crock. Found no (law in the broken hook attached to the block.

William Fleming deposed he was a trainlayor residing at Kanieri. Was working with the deceased. They were working inside the bight of the rope. Had not been working there till the afternoon about 3 o’clock. The accident happened about I o’clock, tu-ard a swish and saw the man fall. Witness was alongside kneeling down. McFadven was standing up. Was half side on. McFadven hail just stovirl up. Saw him hit the ground. llis head hit a loose stone on the ground. Went in him at once. He did not speak. Saw tin* rope and realised what had happened. The rope went three or four feet past before it rested. Do not consider it safe to work inside the bight when hauling operations are in progress. Was not. working in the bight, in the morning hocau.se they did not have material for that part. It was optional where we worked. Wo went there to fix the tram so as to get the gear up. Have had about six' mouths’ experience with ropes and blocks. Have been working with MeFadyen for four or five months. Know the log was being hauled hut did not take any notice. Did not think of the danger. Have never known any of the gear to carry away. The hush plant was well found and everything was provided that was necessary. They had been hauling all day. The previous day the same plant was used and the load oi logs would vary. Knew McFadven to lie an experienced Imslimau. He was generally careful and reliable about his work. Had not examined the plant before or alier the accident. John Arthur Morris, deposed . he was a snigger, residing at Kameri. Was working at Bruce Road mill. One tree had been hauled and a second was under way. It- was a. fair sized tree. The log had been hauled about 3J chains till it reached a creek about -111 feet wide. The woik was progressing satisfactorily and it was just about to take the creek and was swinging on,the hank. ’lhe rope then carried away at the block. 'I lie rope jia;| sagged and someone called out. Did not signal tlie vinchman in slop, sis the winch had stopped. Went to see what had happened and lonnd MeFndyon dead at the side ol the tram. The lope was traversing three blocks. Examined the broken block and lonnd that the hook had carried away. 'I lie block and hook produced are from l lit: hush. Could not foim any idea how it happened. The sudden jerk into the creek might have caused the jerk. Had six years experience slugging. It was part of his duty to examine the blocks. Did so prior to the last haul and found tlie block in question in good order. The block is of the usual type for hush hauling. It had stood the strain previously. Larger trees had been hauled before, but not through the creek. The track used for that purpose had been used on a previous occasion.’ Tile block, to his knowledge, had been in ese about eight weeks. Have known blocks to carry away similarly liefurc. The usual signals were given to the winchnian. Was not aware the men were working on the train line. Any signals given should he heard by them. Had never discussed with MeFadyen the danger of being ill the bight. There is no inspection of the blocks other than that made by the snigger. They are oileil regularly. About a quarter of an inch of the hook was gone. The inside part was welded hack so as to give a hold. It would have a margin 'of almut a quarter of an mrh. The hook attachment is a general practice. All the other blocks in use have a ring attachment. ITe considered the ring attachment stronger and therefore sater. 'I here is always the liability to these accidents. It is prohalile that the undue strain crossing the creek caused the excessive weight from which the accident resulted. Have known the wire or other gear to carry away when there lias lieeu a hiock. Will'll the winch is unalile to draw the load through an obstruction, the winch is pulled up and the winelimau is signalled. It is often necessary to stop for obstructions. MeFadyen would he aware from his experience of the danger of straining the gear by meeting obstructions. and tlie possibility of an accident.

Claude llol.ertson deposed lio was head hushnuin at P.ni-c 1 Koail mill. Have had unhide! able experience in hush v. aid;, fully twelve years. Mad keen in liis position f»r 1‘- months. ■\Vns some distance away when the accident happened. He fixed the Mock to the tree in the morning. Examined the block and considered it in safe condition. Cannot account for the hook breaking. Have known liloeks to break similarly on previous occasions but not at that mill. The hook broke on a steady pull. Consider the hook which broke quite up to the average strength of blocks. \t the -lose of the evidence the ■Coroner referred to the -ad circumstance- o r the accident. mentioning that the deceased was well-known and biohlv resnected. The sympathy ot the < omnuinitv would no o"i to the wife and relatives in their sad bereavement. The occurrence was one ol tr.o-e sudden accidents likely to take place at anv time. The danger seem-.l to he well-known and understood, hut tamiliaritv with the working conditions had nreventod tko natural precautions !>ojng taken hv the deceased. The verdict would lie that death was accidental. due to the carrying »v oj the hook holding the block and the wire rope suddenly released had struck

deceased causing the fatality. The attention of the fellow workmen to their comrade was commended.