TUNNEL DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1917, Page 5

TUNNEL DISASTER.

FATALITY NEAR TAUMARUNUI. By Telegraph.—Press Aosoaiation. Auckland, Aug. 8. It ia reported from Taumarunui that two racii— Tolm Maloney (single) and ..Frederick Baddeley (married) —who wn'Oi employed by the Public Works Departinent, wero killed by a fall of papa rook at. the Qkahu tunnel, Okahukura, this afternoon. Baddeley was killed instantaneously, but Malonoy, who was crushed in the chest, walked with assistance to the entrance, wliero ho expired. Two other men near by escaped injury.

,-j!j THE INQUEST.

Taumarunui, Last Night. At the inquest held to-day at Okahukura on the victims of the unfortunate tunnel accident, the verdict was that the men were accidentally killed, no blame being attachable to anyone. A rider to the verdict stated "that overseers should hold a certificate under the Stone Quarries Act, 1910. The evidence showed that all reasonable care had been exercised since the Public Works Department took eJTarge, and no compjaints had been received from the men The evidence of the employees showed that they considered the tunnel perfectly safe, but the fall of papa was due to a greasy back, which was extremely difficult to -determine. It was tho married victiia'i last day in the tunnel, as he intended leaving with Ms family to-day for Huntly.