John William Clingin, (1901-4/4/1936). "10 minutes before knocking-off"

KILLED BY FALL OF ROCK

SOUTHLAND MINER THE VICTIM 

Per Press Association. — Copyright INVERCARGILL, This Day. 

A scheelite miner Mr John William Clingin, a married man, aged 34 years, lost his life near Glenorchy. at the head of Lake Wakatipu, on Saturday afternoon when a large quantity of rock fell on him. 

He was working with Mr William Ernest Tyree in an open shaft picking scheelite, Mr Tyree walked over to his coat to see the time. 

He was about 12 feet away and called to Mr Clingin that it was "20 past 4” —only 10 minutes before knocking-off time — and was just walking back, when, suddenly, a fall of rock weighing about a ton crashed down on top of Mr Clingin who was killed instantly.

Mr Tyree was unable to extricate him and gave the alarm, assistance being rendered by several residents. The body was conveyed to the Earnslaw Hotel, the police at Queenstown were notified, and at 8 o’clock on Sunday morning Dr. W. A. Anderson and Constable W. Roycroft left for Glenorchy by launch. 

A post-mortem examination was conducted by the doctor, and an inquest was opened before the District Coroner, Mr Donald Sutherland. It was adjourned until April 24. Mr Clingin, who is survived by his widow and three small children, was well known in the district.  -Northern Advocate, 7/4/1936.

Inquest 

The adjourned inquest concerning the death at Mount Judah, Glenorchy, on April 4, of John Clingin, a scheelite miner, was held at Glenorchy on Friday before Mr D. F. Sutherland, coroner. Mr C. E. Macmillan, inspector of mines, was present, and Constable W. Roycroft represented the police. When the evidence of deceased’s mate, W. Tyree, and Mr J. Downey had been heard the coroner brought in a verdict of accidental death by asphyxiation, no blame being attachable to anyone. Deceased, who was employed in the Glenorchy Scheelite Mining Company’s holding on Mount Judah, was working on his own account on an outcrop of the claim by courtesy of the company at the time the accident occurred. A fall of rock and rubble came down on him, completely burying him. He leaves a wife and young children.  -Otago Daily Times, 30/4/1936.

Glenorchy Cemetery. Photo from "findagrave."