OTIRA TUNNEL ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 392, 18 May 1910, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL ACCIDENT.

THE INQUEST ON THE VICTIM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Oreymouth, Tuesday. The jury on the Bealey tunnel fatality returned a verdict that Cha'rles Beemer met ihis death J)y la fall of rock and nvu!lock causing one of the sets of timber to col lapse and pin him between a track ami the floor and an overhead beam for thirteen hours before he could be extricated. Tlie jury added a rider th'at the' Coroner be requested to make strong representations as to the very unsatisfactory methods employej in tl; great undertaking. It hau been *.i - u that there was no supervision of tin "Ting, no provision having been nuwli in the specifications t'hat any inspection -hould take place, thu-i throwing the safety of the men entirely on the contractors." It was shown in evidence that mountain bircfh wasi the only timber used for props, legs, and sills. The particular set that caused this accident wus reported faulty within an ihouir of the occurrence, yet there was no one in authority to order work to cease till everything had been made safe. It should .be made compulsory on contractors for blocking the tunnel as close up to the working face as practicable. The jury could not refrain from directing attention to the 'heavy accident roll since the work commenced, and asked that the Government should cause enquiry to 'be made by a commission of experts as to the strength and quality of timbers used. The Coroner agreed with the verdict, ■but did not consider -some of the statements in the rider quite borne out by, the evidence. He would, lonvard the verdict to the Minister of Justice.