MILL EMPLOYEE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1930, Page 6

MILL EMPLOYEE

KILLED BY BELTING. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.! WESTPORT, September 29. A most distressing fatality occurred this afternoon here at the sawmilling plant of Messrs Bryan and Bo water-, the .victim being Mr Herbert Coxall, of Henley Street, Westport, an employee aged 34 years. The deceased, who, it is understood was a breaking-down bench hand, intending to sharpen an axe, was putting on a belt to drive the grind-stone when the accident occurred. He had to climb up to the shafting in order to put the belt on the pulley, and while so engaged, he by some means became entangled in the belting. The result was that one of his arms .was completely pulled from his‘body, and he-then fell unconscious to'the floor, leaving the arm in on the'safting. One of his legs had also been broken. A conveyance was at once summoned in order to take him to the Hospital,’ but he expired on the journey. His head was not' injured, the effects being confined to the arm and leg and. to shock. , . Great regret ’ is felt, at the tragedy. The deceased leaves a wife and one daughter about seven -years of age. 'His• wife is a member,, of .the Potter family of the Cape line. The late-Mr Coxall is-a son of Air L, Coxall, of the Reefton district,-.And. not very long ago, one of deceased’s brothers ■ also lost 4)is life accideiitally, through a fall -from a motor vehicle in. the -Inangahua. district. An inquest will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) for. identification, and the circumstances of the fatality will be investigated probably in about a; week’s time, as arranged by the Secretary of the Timber Worker’s Union (Mr F. L. Turley), - this course being necessary on account of the Inspector of Machinery (Mr Brown) being absent at present from Grey month on duty in anotlier part of his district. The greatest sympathy, is felt? for the -bereaved relatives,, in their sudden and tragic loss. •