INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1927, Page 2

INQUEST

GREYMOUTH, Nov. 20

An inquest was hold at I p.m. yesterday at Runanga as to the death ot .lames Haldane, miner, of Seven Aide Road, Runanga, who was killed on Thursday afternoon at the leu Mile through' a fall on a bush track by w hich he was returning from work at the Briansdalc Aline, in company with his six mates. The evidence showed that when returning from work, the creek being flooded, tbe men were travelling along the hillside. Deceased was about four chains in front of Barker and ATcTaggart. After they climbed tbe hillside about two or three chains away from the creek, AlcTaggart clinic across the body of Haldane, lying down on the hill. Picking up the liodv, he could see no sign of life. Barker at once commenced to use artificial respiration, whilst witness ran ahead to fetch hack the rest of the party to the scene. Then witness ran back to the mine to bring the first-aid outfit. After this, witness ran back along the creek and sent word foi Dr Alcade and other assistance, llie 1 uTly. when found, was lying face downwards, some dried undergrowth partly covering the face. The body was facing in the opposite direction to that in which Haldane had been proceeding, and the left arm was underneath the head. The body was only about five or six feet from the track usually travelled. Haldane might have fallen a distance of from fen to fourteen feel. A few feet above where the body was, witness found a tree had been cut, there lieing the stump, with a stone beside it, and over either of these the deceased could have fallen. From where witness r-ent deceased ahead at the creek, ho had travelled about three chains to where the body was found. The country was not exceptionally rough, hut it was .slippery, through the rain, and had supple-jacks in it. Deceased had not complained of illness, and always seemed to be a robust man. He and the rest of the party had only been over that track once before.

Dr George AValter Meade. of Runanga, said that at 5 p.m. oil Thursday bo received a message to go to the Ten Alile, and he went about n mile and a-iialf into the hush, and then received definite word from two of the party that Haldane was dead. When the body was brought to the road he examined it, and found life was extinct. On a later examination he found extensive bruising on the front of the I neck, and a small wound on the forehead between the eyes. There also was evidence of a fracture and dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. These were injuries which could lie caused by a fall on the face or the head. The wound on the head indicated the striking of some object. The evidence as to the finding of the body was consistent with injuries. Tn his opinion, death was due to shock and haemorrhage into the brain from the fracture and dislocation of the cervical vertebrae.

The jury returned the following verdict: “That the dceased, James Haldane. met his death by falling from the track whilst descending from the Briansdnle Aline to the main roacT: no blame being attachable to anyone.”