TIMBER THROWN OVER CLIFF.

Shannon News, 17 August 1926, Page 2

TIMBER THROWN OVER CLIFF.

MEN DID NOT KNOW WORKERS WERE BELOiW. THE INQUEST. An inquest, was held by ine Coroner (Mr T. Brown) at Mangahao on Sunday, concerning the death, of deceased. Thomas Franpis Wall, employed on construction work at Mangahao, stated that on Saturday the deceased (Win. J. McLecid), Joseph Prindable and witness were working at an excavation on the bank of the river. Deceased was, during most of the shift, using a pneumatic pick. About 4.50 Mangahao time, witness’ attention was drawn to deceased laying in a prostrate position bln the ledge of the, rock near where he had been working. Prindable and witness removed him a distance, of about four feet to where the rock was overhanging, so as to afford him any protection from any stuff that might coime down the face of the slope. Hie was then bleeding at tlie nose and his right, eye was badly bruised, SAVOllen and closed. He was unconscious. Prindable looked round to see what had struck deceased, but was unable to find anything. The cliff above the ledge where they were working was 50 feet- high. Had known deceased for about four years. He was a steady man, good worker and popular with his fellow workers. Blanche Ethel'Prain, District Nurse a.t Mangahao, stated that on her arrival at. the scene the deceased was quite unconscious, respiration was slow and difficult, pulse failing. He was bleeding from the mouth and nose, and there was a depression, along the upper part of the crahium. He was removed to the medical hut, where he was attended to. Dr. Thomson was communicated with as Dr. Fahey was on his**way up, and said that nothing more could be done. The deceased died at- 6.30 p.m. camp time. Dr. Fahey was notified immediately tlie accident occurred. Dr. Fahey, sworn, stated that at 4.50 pan., he received a telephone message informing him! of an accident at Mangahao. At that time he was at the Palmerston North Hospital. At 5.40 p.m. from Shannon he rang Nurse Prain, who gave him details of the patient’s condition. From the information' he considered the patient had a fractured skull. He rang for the ambulance, from Palmerston N. On arrival at Mangahao just before V p.m. he found the patient had died. On examination he found there was a depression indicating a depressed fracture of the skull. He commended Nurse Prain for her care of the patient, she having done all that, was possible. The injury was in keeping with his being struck on the head with anv blunt object, Joseph Prindable corroborated the evidence given by Thos. Wall. Witness said he had Iris back turned to deceased when he was hurt and did not see what struck him.. His attention was drawn by hearing a thud, on looking round he found deceased prostrate. Canstable Blaikie asked witness it lie considered tlie face safe where they were working. He replied, “Yes,” but it was not safe if anyone was working above.” The nearest man working on the same face would be 225 feet away.

To Mr Johnston: Witness did not know other men were working aboive. Nardello Francesco, .on oath, stated lie was working on Saturday on the crusher site, squaring timber. A. Piazza was working with witness. About 4.30 in the afternoon they had sawn one piece of timber about Ift thick and feet long off. This piece he split'and used for packing and at 4.50 p.m. lie moved and split the log from off the packing. Hie threw what, he did not require over the side, .not knowing anybody was working below. He did not notice it roll down the hill. If he had known anybody was working below h ( >. would not have throAvn it down the hill. There was sufficient Toom to put the timber wdiere he was working. He was about 225 feet up the hill above

where McLeod jwas working, hill measurement. Appoloni Piazza stated he was employed at Man gali ao : . On Saturday he was working at the crusher site along with .Mardello. He did not see anyone throw any timber down and did not know tnien were working below. Joseph O’Keefe, labourer at Mangahao, said that on Saturday at about 4.50 p.m. he was working on the opposite face of the Gorge where deceased was working. He saw a piece otf timber strike deceased and saw him fall, the timber then struck the ledge and rolled down the hill. It would be about three feet long. He had no idea where the timber came from. Saw deceased’s, mates immediately attend to him. John Patrick Lennane, foreman at Mangahao, stated that as far as the cliff was concerned, it was perfectly safe for tile men at. work. Had he known any men were working on the top he would certainly have taken those men away. -THE VERDICT. The Coroner’s 'verdict was that deceased was accidentally killed by a piece of timber falling on him and fracturing his skull at Mangahao, on Saturday, ■ August 14tli. He added a rider that from the evidence he- judged that no one can be blamable f° r tlle accident.