WAIUKU RAILWAY'S FIRST VICTIM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 15, 23 February 1915, Page 2

WAIUKU RAILWAY'S FIRST VICTIM.

Labourer Buried Alive. The first fatality that has attended the construction of the new Waiuku railway line occurred on Friday last, about midday, when a labourer, named Austen James Ma'one, whikt working in a cutting situated upon Mr W. Finlay's property near Patumahoe, was buried by a fail of earth and instantaneously killed. 'lhe circumstances attending the dsath were nairated to the Acting-Coroner, Mr R. F. Webster, at an inquest held in tbe Pukekohe Courthouse on Saturday afternoon. The jury consisted of Messrs J. J. Coady (foreman), H. K. Dick, C. Roadley, C. Torr, W. T. Simpson and C. Brown. Mr W. Hall Jones, enflineer-in-charge of the railway works, was present at the inquiry, representing the Public Works Department and Sergeant Cowan represented the Police. Evidence of identification was first given by Chas. L. Malone, pupil teacher, of New Lynn, who stated that the deceased, who was his father, was 56 years of age and bad been employed on the new Waiuku railway line under the Public Works Department. The deceased was survived by a widow and family of three, who resided at New Lynn, Auckland.

Francis Selman deposed that he had been one of a gang of four working at the time of the accident with the deceased, who was the head of the gang. Noticing that a fall of earth, for which they were working was imminent witness shouted out to deceased but before deceased could make good hio escape the fall occurred and deceased was buried under some three fef.t of soil, including a mass of clay. Witness and the other three members of the gang lent prompt assistance, but although deceased was dag out within three minutes life was then extinct. The fall was purely accidental and could not hive been foreseen. FraDkLush, who was aim t> member of decta?ed's gaig, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, adding that in his opinion the sudden and prfmature fall of earth was caused by a flaw iu the gto ■ d.

Further corroborative evidence was given by Allen Bimie, who at the time of the accident was engaged in carting material from the cutting. Dr Johnston, locum tenens for Dr Bronte, I'ukekohe, spoke to proceeding to the scene of the accident in response to a telephonic message. An examination of the body showed that deceased's spine was broken and the right leg fractured. George O'Connell, overseer on the Waiuku railway wotks, deposed that he had examined the spot after the accident, and his opinion was that the premature fall was brought about by what was known as a "greasyback," or in othsr words by a cleavage in the earth caused by a soakage of water at some previous period, no outward signs of the seme having been visible. The deceased was a mcßt competent workman and was experienced in earth construction work. The ganjr, of which deceased was in charge, were working on the co-operative system under the I'ublic Works Dspartment. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death, adding thst no blame -was attachable to anyone.

The funeral 01 the unfortunate victim of the accident tuok place at the Pukekohe Cemetery on Sunday morning, the Kev. G. Frost officiating.