The remains of Mr Alexander Cameron, who met his death by at Cromwell last week, were brought to Dunedin, and were interred in the Northern Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, being followed by a large procession of the Gaelic Society and other Highlanders and friends, headed by Mr A. Gray, piper, who played appropriate laments. Mr J. A. Torrance conducted the service. Mr Cameron was born at Cabost, Isle of Skye. He came to the colony on dredge No. 222, and was for years engaged on her as winchman. He was a prominent member and office-bearer of the Gaelic Society, whose meetings he has often enlivened by Gaelic songs, and he was a liberal contributor to the society's benevolent schemes. -Otago Witness, 2/6/1898.
INQUEST AT CROMWELL.
The adjourned inquest touching the death of Alexander Cameron, who was found dead on the morning of the 24th of May, at the Alpine dredge, whilst moored at Cromwell bridge, was held at the court-house, Cromwell, on Wednesday, June 1st, before Mr Coroner McCarthy and a jury of six, Mr William Crookston being foreman.
Mr Geo. McLay gave evidence as to bringing the dredge down the river, and mooring it against the western bank of the Clutha river and almost under the bridge. The witness stated that on the evening of Saturday, 21st of May, the dredge was moored a few feet from the bank, the space between the shore and the dredge being bridged by a boat placed obliquely, and this was put into position by the deceased himself, who was a shareholder in the dredge. Whilst the deceased was securing the boat, witness left the dredge by a plank from the bow of the dredge. This plank was run out specially for him to go ashore, and not taken on board again. On Monday afternoon, May 23rd, deceased and another man left the dredge with a dray for the purpose of returning a wire rope which had been borrowed from the Electric Dredge No. 1. This was the last time he saw him alive. When the dredge was at work above Lowburn, deceased used to live in a hut, but during the passage of the dredge down the river towards the new claim he had slept on board for his own convenience.
Dr Morris deposed that he had examined the body and found no evidence of violence except a slight abrasion at the back of the head, too slight to penetrate to the bone. This may have been caused by the man falling, but did not think from appearance that such would render the deceased insensible or incapable of getting on board. He considered death was due to exposure. A person intoxicated would more quickly succumb to exposure than one who was sober.
Edwin Jolly, W. Toms, J. Watt, and J. Dewar, all of whom are employed on the Alpine dredge, gave evidence to the effect that on the night of May 23rd the deceased was drinking in various hotels and became intoxicated. When in that state he was very violent. The witness Watt tried to get him to the dredge several times during the evening and between 10 and 11 o’clock managed to get him to within 40 yards of the dredge (on which he was to sleep) when he began to fight and fell, eventually going to sleep there, where the witness left him. This witness went on board at 6 next morning and thought he heard deceased in his bunk, but about 7.45, a young man named Charles Fleming who is employed at one of the Electric Coy’s dredges found the body lying near the dredge and called to witness, who sent for the police.
Other witnesses testified to deceased’s intoxicated condition late on the evening ot May 23rd, and to his violent behaviour when going towards the dredge.
Constable Dale gave evidence as to finding the body near the plank referred to in the evidence of Mr McLay, and to the position of the dredge and mooring lines.
The Inspector of Mines (Mr Hayes), who was present, briefly addressed the jury. He said that during the past year there had been an alarming number of fatalities in connection with dredges, but was glad, from the evidence just heard, that the recent fatality did not come under that head, strictly speaking. The heads of the Mims Department in Wellington naturally became anxious to have these averted as far as possible, and he was accordingly instructed to report on the provisions made on board dredges to prevent accidents and to save life in cases of accident, in the course of his inspection of working dredges he was much pleased with the careful provisions made in some instances, but in others was simply amazed at the gross carelessness of the men employed, and the indifference of owners as to the provisions desirable tor the safety of their workmen, and quoted several cases which came under his immediate notice calling for rectification. Mr Hayes said that on some dredges he found conditions which would not be tolerated for a single moment in any well-organised coal or quartz mine. In consequence of his inspection, a set of practical and thoroughly reasonable regulations had been prepared, and a copy sent to all dredgeowners and dredgemasters. Under the provisions of ‘The Mining Act Amendment Act of 1895,' these can be enforced. In preparing these regulations, care had been taken to provide only for what is reasonable in the interests of safety, and although many suggestions had been made to him by employees, managers, and, in a few instances, owners of dredges, of a somewhat drastic character, be contended that nothing harrassing to the industry in the least degree had been inserted, and that the regulations contained no provisions which he would not voluntarily adopt himself it he held the position of a dredge manager, his lengthy experience in conection with the management of large English collieries having taught him what was necessary for safety in mining matters. It was his intention to carry out his duty kindly and firmly, and without fear or favour, and hope to have the hearty co-operation of all concerned to make the work as safe as possible. He mentioned that the new safety regulations had been most favorably received by several dredgemasters, and also in Dunedin by the directors of some of the dredging companies.
The jury, after considering the evidence, returned the following verdict: — The jury find that deceased met his death through exposure through being under the influence of liquor. The jury consider that the parties who last saw him should have given information to the police, also that no blame attaches to the manager of the dredge. -Dunstan Times, 17/6/1898.
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