THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE TUNNEL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2506, 2 August 1888, Page 2

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE TUNNEL.

The Inquest. SITTING U.N'DEU OKKAT DIFFICULTIES. As inquest on the body of the late John trough was held at the tunnel, before Captain Rutherford, J.P., in the absence of the coroner, Mr Gresham. A jury of six was empannelled, and after hearing the evidence a verdict of accidental death was returned. One of the witnesses said he had had 20 year's experience in tunnel work and timbering drives, and in his opinion the timbering was properly put in. It was his duty to do so, and he would not have worked in the drives under tho timbers if he thought them unsafe. Captain Rutherford had an unpleasant journey, as the road between Te Kuiti and the tunnel is very bad. He and Constable Berriinan left the latter place at 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning, travelling all night to catch the Tuesday morning's train for Te Awamutu, The body left the tunnel immediately after being viewed by the jury at 6 p.m. on Monday. It was taken to Te Kuiti on a sledge drawn by two horses. Three mon accompanied it, one walking in front with a light. The party arrived at To Kuiti on Tuesday morning, when the coffin was put on the train for Te Awamutu, where it was left, pending instructions from deceased's relatives in Auckland. Mr Britton defrayed all expenses. Constable Berriman deserves great praise for the pains he took in getting the inquest held. He went to a great deal of trouble, not sparing himself, in the execution of his duty, which, owing to the bad roads and the night travelling involved, was very arduous. Gough's death was instaneons, for when dug out one leg was found to be broken in two places, one arm and his neck broken, besides a terrible wound on the forehead.

A number of men have left the works and gone down to Auckland, alleging that the timbering in the tunnel is defective and dangerous, and that it has shown signs <if giving way for some time.