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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5337, 6 May 1878, Page 2

The -inquest held at the Uppou Hutt on Friday, touching the death of Patrick Moriarty, who was, killed, at the Kimutaka tunnel the previous day, resulted in a verdict of “ aocidental'death.” There can be no doubt whatever that upon the evidence adduced, of which a full report appeared in our columns on Saturday, no other verdict could have been arrived; at consistently with the facts as sworn to by the witnesses. Their testimonyundoubtedly leads to the conclusion that if the unfortunate man who was killed and his fellow workman, who, although he escaped with life, was seriously injured, had exercised, due precaution, the sad accident would not have occurred. No medical evidence was called, as to the nature' of the injuries received; to have done so would have been to overburden the case with unnecessary proof, as it was clear that the poor fellow was suffocated by the blocks of earth and timber which fell upon him. The only evidence of an “expert” was that of Mr. Mason, the engineer in charge of that section of the railway where the accident occurred, and it might have been as well perhaps that the testimony of an engineer unconnected with the work'lud been taken; hot that there was any doubt of Mr. Mason’s evidence being thoroughly reliable and straightforward, but : that it is usual in such cases to hear what a j competent witness, thoroughly independent as to the issue of the case, has to say in the matter. Had this been done, however, there is no reason to suppose- that any different complexion would have been thrownon the matter. The obvious moral to, be drawn from this -melancholy occurrence. 1 is that men engaged in dangerous occupations should exercise every possible care and; caution. ,The vast majority of misadventures of the same land as that which occurred on Thursday, at the lliniutaka, come under the category .of ;preveutible accidents. As a rule people engaged in hiining and other 'callings which 1 have about them the elements of danger, get. so used to their work and its surroundings 1 that they forget the perilous- part of it altogether, and the wonder is .that the number of serious and fatal accidents which annually occur is not' even greater than it is at the present time.