YOUTH CLAIMS £1,000 FOR LOSS OF HAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 429, 10 August 1928, Page 13

YOUTH CLAIMS £I,OOO FOR LOSS OF HAND

DETONATOR EXPLOSION

As a result of the explosion of a detonator last January, Arthur Frederick Rose, aged 18, lost his left hand and a finger of the right.

Mr. Justice Blair and a jury were occupied in the Supreme Court all day

yesterday in hearing a claim for £I,OOO damages by the injured youth against Grinter Bros., contractors, Otahuhu. The claimant, through Mr. OsburneLilly, alleged that the defendants’ workmen had carelessely left the caps among excavated earth from tunnelling works in Newmarket. The defence brought forward by Mr. E. H. Northcroft and Mr. N. Watson was a complete denial of negligence. If the detonators were found, they were wrongfully removed. A former workman on the tunnelling deposed that a mate of his, recently killed, had also found caps lying about. Mr. Northcroft contended that plaintiff had “shifted his ground” several times in the preparation of the claim. In his opinion, the boys had known very well what the detonators were. He would call evidence to show how carefully the explosives had been used and stored. Joseph Bowden, clerk of works to the Drainage Board, for which the work had been done, denied the statement that explosives were carried in open kerosene tins, detailed the system of issuing supplies, and indicated where the main magazine had been situated. Supporting evidence was given by Thomas MoEwan, foreman for defend - The court then rose until this morning. Continuing his evidence this morning, the defendant’s foreman, McEwan, said no explosives were issued on the job since December 19, 1927, when the main tunnel was completed. After that date he sent all explosives to Panmure. Witness denied that the boys could have seen explosives carried about in open tins. The practice was to transport plugs, fuse, and detonators in closed billies. Witness frequently chased away the Rose boys from the workings. They had “cheeked” him when found interfering with the firm’s machinery. To Mr. Osburne-Lilly, witness said the detonators were kept in a locked box in his office. He alone kept the key. (Proceeding.)