The Fatal Accident Yesterday.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1911, 17 February 1875, Page 2

The Fatal Accident Yesterday.

COKONER'S INQUEST,

An inquest was held at the Rising Sun Hotel at 10 o'clock this morning, on view of the body of David (McFarlane, killed in the Dauntless mine yesterday, before Dr. Kilgour and the following jury:— Mr George Soyer (foreman), Messrs Charles Noon, Archibald Campbell, Isaac Hopkins, Bartholomew Brewn, James Matthews, Henry Jury, James Quinton, Martin Murphy, John Marchant, John Martin, and John Tucker.

Sergeant Elliott was present oh behalf of the police. v The Mining Inspector was in attendance.

Charles F. Lethbridge, being sworn, said—l am a duly qualified medical man residing at Shortland. I was called yesterday morning about ten o'clock to see deceased. I found that life was extinct. There was serious injury to the head, the bones of the skull being broken, and the brain lacerated, evidently by the pressure of some heavy body. From the nature of the injury death must have been almost instantaneous.

Bobert : Hall, sworn, said—l am a miner residing at Moanatairi Creek. I was working yesterday about 10 o'clock in the Dauntless mine, in. the stopes, 10 feet in advance of where deceased was working.' Hearing some stuff, Isung out to him to know what was the matter. As he did not answer, I turned roujwiHxf see._JWhenJ^gotjto^Jh^stapa-^Tfound deceased Iyra^pmser the flake. I called for help, and at once started moving the stuff. When assistance arrired we got him out to the surface. Life was then quite extinct. Deceased was under the earth for from five to ten minutes. I considered the place where deceased was working was perfectly safe. As far as I knew of him, deceased was a steady man. The stbpe was distant back from the rise 10 feet. There was no, timber in the stope, which was filled up with mullock. It was not known there were "soapy heads " in the ground.

By a juror—l have been in possession of the tribute 10 weeks. I have; not aeen Captain Goldsmith up there. I nave been working shifts. I don't remember deceased or any other of the men working in the mine saying to me that Captain Goldsmith had visited the mine. As tributer I was supposed to find my own timber for the works.

By the Coroner—-I am of opinion that mullock is better for filling in such ground than timber. ■■

By Sergeant Elliott—Deceased had an equal share with the other three in the tribute.

Frederick Chew, being sworn, deposed —I am a miner, living in Pollen-street. I was working yesterday about 20 feet below where the accident happened, about ten o'clock/in the Dauntless mine. The first I heard was that some stuff had come down, and Hall sung out to know what the deceased was about. He got no answer, and sung out again. Hall told me to go round by the lower level, as Davie was caught. I saw the other men working in the mine, and got their assis-

tance. I then went in to the scene of the accident. Found a big lump of mullock had fallen out of the hanging wall, and deceased lying underneath it. I then went away for^-a stretcher and the doctor, and left life /.other men to get him out. As I sawjßie .deceased lying there was not the pjghtgftt motion in the limbs or body. ■'>&: „ '■/-• By t^| foreman—l can't say whether the place was safe where deceased was working. I had not been there fora fortnight. By a juror—l have held a share in the. tribute for four months. I saw the Inspector of Mines up there when we took the tribute, but don't recollect seeing him since. Have not heard any of my mates say they saw him up there. By another juror — Where deceased wasitwasgood "gadding" ground. I have seen deceased " sound " the ground after a shot. I had not seen any of the " soapy heads " in the stopes during the time we have been working; the ground. By Sergeant Elliott—Deceased never spoke to his mates as to the ground being dangerous. I looked upon deceased as a careful man in. a mine.

This was all the evidence.

The room was then cleared, and;after about twenty minutes' deliberation the : jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."