THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT LARRIKIN'S TERRACE.

Kumara Times, Issue 940, 4 October 1879, Page 2

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT LARRIKIN'S TERRACE.

[communicated.]

The late accident at Larrikin's" has been foremost in the mindsr (of the" miners at least) since it happened, as it is one of those things that is likely to happen at any time to any miner. Many of the accidents that have happened on the Knniara failed to impress the' miners much, as there was such palpable carelessness; but in the case of Fred. Oakey no particular carelessness' has been shown, and it is well known that he was a skilled workman as far as mining is concerned. I quite agree with the Coroner's- Jury when they say it was an accident; bat when nirtn have been so long at work as Oakey's party were; they ought, for their own safety, to have a better getaway in cise of accident. Ground that is so shallow and so flat on the'surface is more liable to accident through water and g ound caving in than deep ground. could have surpassed the untiring energy and skill displayed by the miners in relieving CoehraneLand afterwards getting out Oakey's Jody ; but it struck me at the time that a great doul of energy and time was lost for want of concentrated action. If pome xw.w.-i coul.i be devised whereby one ov fcv-o mun in a particular district

'could he aiviin-ved t 0 hastily .summon a few together and decide on a certain course of action, when an accident takes place, and one or two of those agreeing to any particular course of action to remain constantly on the ground and see it carried out. The more thoughtful miners feel safer when they know that the affair is being looked after. In cases of accident it is necessary that short shifts he adopted so that the working party is always fresh for work, and this contimral change brings often a change of idpas that often conflict with the previous plan, or one man may think he is making himself quite safe whereas the next that comes finds that it is necessary to secure himself from danger before he can do anything for the man that is caught. There are instance too, although happily very rare, were inexperienced men push themselves forward with the best of motives and sometimes are the cause of great delay. Were any person in charge, such a thing could not take place, as the mam would be responsible, for what was tlone while he was there In the majority of cases the mates of those j meeting with an accident would be the best to duvet the work but very often they are too excited, and perhaps their opinion would be better than any action they could take in the matter. After an accident has taken place it is to late to appoint any one to supervise the work, but it might be advisable, for the miners to divide the place into districts with one or two of a committee; in each ; not that a committeeman would necessarily know more than anyone else, but simply would be ii means of concentrated action.