THE LATE JOHN GORE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2645, 13 October 1923, Page 2

THE LATE JOHN GORE.

C’ORONTAL INQUIRY. The circumstances of a fatal fall Prim the partly-built De Luxe Theatre in Courtenay Place, Wellington, on 2nd October, were outlined before the Coroner (MrE. Page, S.AL) ;# Wellington on Thursday. John (fore was admitted to hospital late in the afternoon on that day. his condition indicating that his spine was fractured. He died at Ift p.m. the same day. James Tunes, engineer and cranedriver, said on the afternoon of the accident he was engaged on the building on n stage about 4ft feet up. erecting a power crane. Deceased and two other men were assisting him. They had just put a sleeper leg info position, and were swinging the hand crane round to get hold of the other leg. The men at the crane were about to lower Hie jib which was practically full, when it became disengaged and crashed on to the stage. It was falling within 12 feet of (lore, but could not reach him. Core appeared lo lose his head, /fumbled and attempted to hold on, then fell. TTe might have thought the jib was falling on him, and endeavoured to get out of the way. The jib could not be stopped alter it started to fall. The crane was supposed to he fool-proof, but on this occasion it got out of order.

Evidence showed that deceased had shortly prior to the accident, been discharged from hospital, where he had been confined with influenza. The inspector of scaffolding stated that the crane was one of the latest designs, and was specially designed to prevent accidents, such as had, in spite of it, occurred in this ease.

The Coroner found that dentli was due to injuries received through falling from a platform while deceased was engaged working for Air Williamson, contractor. The Coroner said he would express no opinion as to tlie efficiency of the plant.

At the inquest, Senior-Sergeant O’Hara represented the police, Ah' R. A. Holland, inspector of scaffolding. represented the Labour Department, Mr P. 1. O’Regan representing the widow and Messrs A. \). Blair and Ik H. Putnam represented the contractors.