The Late Fatal Accident.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4839, 12 July 1884, Page 2

The Late Fatal Accident.

There is little to add to the report, in last night's issue, of the accident whereby Mr T. Quaelly, familiarly known as " Collarbone Tom," met his death. Np medical examination of the body was made, but deceased was probably suffocated. He was a single man, and an old resident on the field. The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon, and will no doubt be largely attended, as deceased was well and favorably known.

COBONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held in the Golden Age Hotel, Waiotahi Creek, at 11 o'clock this morning, before Dr Kilgour, Coroner, and the following jury:—-George Harcourt (foreman), J. Stockdale,. G. L. Gino, R. Thomas, G. McClare, C. Cbilcott, G. Huckett,E. Potter, G. Graham, C. Brown, E. Gibbs, and W. Howe.

After the jury had viewed the-body, evidence was taken as follows :—

Mark Diamond deposed that he was at work with Quaelly yesterday, though not in the same place. They were about 80ft. apart, a small spur hiding deceased from him. They had dinner together, and he last saw deceased alive about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. About a quarter to four he went round to where he was "working, to see if he had taken shelter from; aheavy shower which had fallen. V Gh looking around, saw that a slip had taken place, and observed deceased's left arm showing aboTe the debrif. Witness scraped away the mullock from deceased's head witu his hands, but he was quite dead. He called for Delahunty, who assisted him to clear the body, which was carried to the hotel. Would not swear that the ground was safe, but it looked all right at dinner time. Deceased was preparing tqr put timber mi knowing the ground was liable to slip. Deceased was an experienced miner.

"To tVe foreman—The drive was in about fire feet, and there were eight or nine feet of 'ground above the roof. Deceased, must hare bean placing the first set of timber in position when the accident happened. - The open cutting was in abqujtlqffc, and the place where the first "TSfeT was put in was just within the drive, there being room for the ground to come away behind, which it had apparently done. P. Delahunty deposed to helping to dig out deceased,, who was quite dead when he saw him first, and with others carrying the body to the hotel. The ground was not very dangerous if ordinary care was exercised. The cutting should have- been timbered; it would be safe in dry weather, but the rain made it dangerous. Constable. Christie to taking charge of 'the body, and Mr J. M. McLaren/Mining Inspector, who watched the proce. dings to see if there had been any neglect on the part of the mine manager, after hearing the evidence, gave his opinion that the deceased would hare secured the ground bed not it come on wet. Deceased was a good miner, and far from being a raßh man. The timber should hare, been ; put in sooner. He deprecated men working alone in all cases, but Quaelly and his mate had evidently been doing so without the knowledge of the mine manager, so he had nothing to say against the latter; > : b The Coroner said there was^ no doubt in this case as much «are had not been taken as should-hare beeij the case. The men| from continually being in danger, became careless, and this seemed to bare been tbe real cause of the mishap. The jury returned a yerdict of "Accidental death,": without a rider..