INQUEST.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4741, 22 August 1924, Page 2

INQUEST.

MARATOTO MINE FATALITY. RESULT OF PULLEY BREAKING. An inquest on .the circumstances surrounding the death ofi Mr Isaac Wade, a single man aged 44' years, who wag killed at the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mine Co.’s mine at Maratpto on Tuesday last, was held at Hikutaia on Wednesday, before Mr F. E. Flatt, district coroner.

Dr. T. G. Smith, Paeroa, deposed to examining the body of deceased and finding that the right side of the frontal bone was depressed by a fracture, causing laceration of the brain. Death was due to shock following on such an injury. Alexander Duncan, farmer, Hikutaia, stated that deceased was his brother-in-law, and he had last seen him alive the previous evening. Deceased always enjoyed good health, and had no heart affection. Witness said that deceased was the sole support of his widowed mother, who lived at Hikutaia. Deceased lived near the mine, but returned to his home for the week-ends. To the Coroner witness said that deceased had never complained of illhealth or the nature of the work he Was doing. On Saturday last deceased had stated to witness in the course of conversation that the plant at the mine was working very satisfactorily. He made no mention of any defects in the plant or danger to himself in running it. John Leather, an old-age pensioner, employed by the company as a telephone attendant, living at Maratoto. stated that about twenty minutes to eight on Tuesday morning he heard a bump in the compressor building, and on going to investigate he found deceased lying on the floor of the compressor room, with one foot still on the concrete bed of the engine. After straightening the legs of deceased he gave the alarm that an accident had occurred. The machinery had stopped with the exception of a pelton-wheel. He had known deceased for about eight years as a healthy, robust man, who was always particularly careful at his work. Edward Thomas Potts, miner, employed by the company at Maratoto, said that he had known deceased for about seven months, and had been his camp mate. Deceased had left the -whare at 7.30 a.m. for the compressor building and witness went on into the mine. Deceased appeared to be in his usual good health and spirits. He had never known deceased to indulge in liquor, and was of the opinion, that deceased was a very steady and reliable man. When he next saw him, deceased was lying on the floor of the compressor room. He noticed that the belt from the engine to the compressor was off, and a small, wheel on the shafting was broken into a number of pieces. John W. O’Sullivan, mine manager at Maratpto, gave evidence in which he stated that deceased was employed by the company to run the compressor. It was a part of the standing duties of deceased to oil up and turn the compressor on so as the necessary pressure would be available for the miners by 8 a.m. Witness said that he was at the mine about 7.30 *.m„ and he waited for some ten minutes for the air to come on. He then telephoned to the compressor room, but as he got no response he walked up to it. On the way he met Leather, who told him that he was afraid Wade had been killed. Witness saw deceased lying in the position described, and after notifying the police, mining inspector, and the company’s officials that a fatality had occurred he assisted to bring the body down. He noticed that a small pulley was broken, and deceased was lying at right angles to the direction in which the belt would run. An oil-can near him was badly dented. The machinery had been last inspected by the Inspector of Machinery in September and a certificate obtained. Deceased had been employed in the compressor for six or seven months, and was regarded by him as a steady, reliable worker. He was of the impression that deceased had been oiling up when he met his death. Witness said that he inspected the compressor room daily, and only on Monday deceased had stated that the machinery was working satisfactorily. A new pinion had been fitted some four weeks ago. On inspecting the machinery after the accident witness said he noticed that the boss and key belonging to the wheel was still intact.

Cross-examined by. the Inspector of Mines (Mr M, Paul), witness said that the size of the pulley driving the compressor was 2ft 4in in diameter, and the diameter of the driving wheel was 4ft 9in. The distance between the wheels in the clear was 16ft 4in. Both the belt and the wheels were properly protected, by railings. He considered the machinery was absolutely safe, and no trouble had been experienced with the exception of the cog-wheels breaking a pillion. He had been a mine manager for nearly forty years, and had been manager .at Maratoto for over three years. He had never experienced a fatal or serious accident before. He saw no cause or reason why the pulley should have broker, but he was aware that sometimes flaws existed that were not discernible to the naked eye. The heavy frost experienced that morning might have affected the machinery, but he could give no reason for the cause of the accident. Constable J. McClinchy, Paeroa, gave evidence as to receiving a telephone call about the accident and his examination of deceased in the compressor room, and later described the removal of the body to Hikutaia. Witness conflrmjed the statement that all reasonable protection of life was carried out as required under the Act. Witness sasd that he had known deceased for three and a half years, and had always regarded him as a sober and industrious man who ws highly respected, in the district. He had known Mr O’Sullivan for some twenty years, .-find knew that he was not in the hajbit of employing men unless they were of sober habits and good conduct. Witness said that he hfcd

made a careful examination and could find no trace of evidence of neglect or carelessness. The finding of the coroner was that deceased, Isaac Wade, had met his death in the compressor building of the G Id and Silver Mine Co. at Maratoto on Tuesday, August 19, 1924, through being struck in the forehead by parts of a pulley. In his opinion the fatality had been purely an accident, and no blame was attachable to anyone. The coroner extended sympathies and condolences to the mother and relatives of the deceasted. Deceased was interred at Hikutaia on Wednesday afternoon, and there was a large attendance of settlers and friends, including the officials of the company and workmates of the deceased.