THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE WATERWORKS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1026, 4 August 1879, Page 2

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE WATERWORKS.

The following is the conclusion of our report of the inquiry touching the death of Patrick Markham and Paul Fitzpatrick, who lost their lives through a fall of earth in the 28-chain tunnel on the water-race, held on Saturday afternoon. James Reddy, a miner engaged at the waterworks, and employed by the Corporation, said he had been working in the 28-chain tunnel since last February, His (witness') work in the tunnel was to remove the upright timbers as required out

of the way of the masons, and he received i instructions from Wright, who told him i to remove anything in Ford's way. 1 W:igh„ told him to he careful in re- ■ irovijg anything, and to see that Ford ' kept as close up with the keystones as < possible before the cross heads were re- < moved. He had obeyed these instruc- ( tions. The ground was shingly and ( treacherous. There had been a pretty ■ heavy fall three weeks before in the ; tunnel. It occurred during the night ; when no one was at work. He could not . say what caused it. He had na means of ascertaining if there was any danger of a , fall before removing the supports, and he could only see that the timber was properly packed. On Thursday last Ford, Hark ham, and Fitzpatrick wero engaged building the walls, and witness was clearing. W right was there that day from 10 to half-past 12 o'clock. He gave witness instructions to bo careful in taking out the next sot of props before Ford could put in the centres. He removed one set of props after this, and was, careful in doing so. Ford had built up 12 feet of walling and two courses of the areli on each and it was. than necessary to enable the centres to be put in. He removed the prop, and Ford, assisted by Markhamand Fitzpatrick, started to put in the centres. Witness was about eight feet from them nearer the mouth of the tunnel. About two hours and a half after he removed the prop he was working about that distance from them, when he heard a noise and saw the fall of earth, and van for the mouth of the tunnel. He saw the three men standing, the timber and earth coming down, and he rushed out of the tunnel. He called for assistance, and three men of Ford's, who were working on the night shift, and two others joined him, and he went into the tunnel, but could see nothing but shingjo and timber, with which the three men were covered. It was impossible to get at thorn from that side, went round and entered the tunnel from the other end, but again could not see anything of the men. They were completely buried. The work of getting the out was at once proceeded with. Those at work I could hear Ford all the time. He had heard Fitapatrick before he left the other end of the tunnel. . He (Fitzpatrick) sang out, " Boys, can you do anything for me." He did no.t hear him afterwards. Ford had been protected by the masonry and timber forming a sort of arch over him. Ford was. got ant alive about five o'clock the nest morning. Markham's dead body was got out about 12 o'clock. Work was continued, but he was not present when Fitzpatrick was found. To the Jury : He could not tell by the sound of the fall whether there had been a hollow above the timber lining. The distance between the last keystone and the nearest prop was 3ft. Gin, The prop was still standing. It was about twenty- ■ five minutes to five when the accident occurred.

Donald Archibald M'Leod, Corporation Engineer, stated that he had not been out to the tunnel since the accident, but had made inquiries of his officers with reference to the accident. Patrick Ford had the contract to line so much of the tunnel as required it. The Corporation employed miners to take out ground where it was necessary, and to assist in putting in the packing. The south end of the tunnel required to be lined, being the part of an old drift. Ford had secured and lined the other end of the tunnel with the same assistance. Having given details as to the general supervision exercised over the work, he said he gave instructions to Wright. His. instructions chiefly were with reference to the taking out of timber, and to see that the stone was properly put in, and in as short lengths as possible. His instructions had been faithfully carried out, and all the men were trustworthy and capable. The probable cause of the accident was the existence of a vacancy some distance above the lining. It had been reported to him that a fall of earth had occurred some three weeks ago near the spot where the accident took place. That fall was not extensive, it w:is cleared out, and the plac.e The hollow caused by this fall was tilled jin with timber and stuff. The last fall | would be 20 or 30 feet nearer the mouth I of the tunnel than the other one.

To the jury : Every care was taken to prevent accidents, and none but the most experienced miners and workmen were employed. The masonry was 14iti. in thickness, and could not possibly give, n<> matter what weight was upon it. The tunnel is Oft. Gin. high, and 6ft. wide, with a pointed arch. The Coroner then briefly addressed the Jury, who, after a short consultation, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased met their death by a fall of earth in the tunnel, and that the occurrence was accidental.