SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 43, 16 August 1907, Page 3

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT TE KUITI.

Workmen Fall .Down Lime Kiiii

On Saturday morning last a serious accident occurred at Messrs Wilson & Co.'s lime works, Te Kuiti, resulting in severe injury to two workmen, named Richard Bowden and Charles Hallett.

The men were engaged,in repairing a breach in the inside of one of the large kilns, and were working from a stage suspended about fifteen feet from the top by ropes. One of the ropes parted under the strain and the men were precipitated to the bottom of the kiln, a distance of about twentyfive feet. When the men were got out it was at once seen that their injuries were of a serious nature. Fortunately the accident occurred in the morning before the express train had gone and arrangements were made for stopping the train at the kiln and having the men conveyed to Hamilton Hospital. ' In the meantime everything possible was done by Mr Walsh, Manager of the Works, to alleviate the men's sufferings, and he proceeded to Hamilton in charge of the sufferers. Upon examination at the Hospital it was found that Bowden was suffering from a compound fracture of the leg at the ankle, and a severe shock to the system. Hallett's injuries were somewhat less severe, consisting of several fractured ribs, and a number of severe bruises and contusions, while he was also suffering severely from shock. At first it was feared that Bowden would lose his leg, but latest advices report favorably in that respect. There may be internal injuries to both, men, but present indications point to the fact that if such is the case they are of a slight nature. Mr Walsh, the Manager of the Works, on being interviewed as to the cause of the accident, could only attribute it to the fact of too great a strain being put on the ropes supporting the stage. The men were accustomed to the work, aucl had often been engaged on it previously. They were both careful men, but had probably overloaded the stage with bricks. The stage was suspended by four ropes, one at each corner, and only one of the ropes had parted. Mr Bowden is a married man, with a family, and resides in Te Kuiti. Hallett is a young, unmarried man, and has not been very long in the colonv.