FATAL ACCIDENT.
A fatal accident occurred at the New Zealand Timber and Woodware Factory, Princes street, at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr Thomas White, one of the joiners, was going up a ladder into the carpenter's shop, when a piece of timber was thrown from a saw and struck him on the back of the head, killing him almost instantly. The wood had become fastened, and when an effort was made to free it, it was thrown off by the saw with much violence. No one could be blamed in the matter, as it was purely accidental. The deceased was a young man, 23 years of age. and the only support of a widowed mother. He was a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and arrived in Otago about ll months ago in the James Nicol Fleming. Very deep sympathy is felt for Mrs White, and some of her relatives, who live near Dunedin, were sent for at once. The deceased was unmarried. -Otago Daily Times, 24/9/1878.
INQUEST.
The City Coroner and a jury of twelve held an inquest today at the Hospital touching the death of Thomas White, who, it will be remembered, was fatally injured at Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's factory on Monday afternoon. The following is a synopsis of the evidence:
Henry Haughton, wood-bender at the factory, had known White for about a year. He was a carpenter, 23 years of age, and unmarried. On Monday afternoon about a quarter past four o clock, witness was working on the platform o which the machinery is raised, when he saw deceased come up the path and ascend the steps of the landing. He had got onto the platform, when a piece of scantling was driven from the circular saw which was working some distance away and struck him on the back of the head, knocking him senseless on the spot. Witness ran to pick him up, and then saw that blood was issuing from a wound at the back of the head. Deceased was removed at once to the hospital Witness was working at a saw similar to that from which the wood flew, but had no knowledge how the accident happened. The saw was in good working order.
Isaac Selby, joiner, who assisted to take deceased to the hospital, said that death must have been been almost instantaneous. Pieces of wood are very rarely projected from the saw, but whenever they are thrown off they fly in a direction parallel to the revolution of the saw; and it would help to prevent accidents of this kind if there was no traffic behind the bench.
Charles JamesWilson, tailer-out at the saw, said he was pulling the piece of wood away from the saw when the accident occurred. The scantling — which was 16ft long and 2 1/4in square — had just been sawn through, and as it came away from the saw one end of it struck the ground, causing it to spring up on to the teeth of the saw, which caught it and sent through the air. The projectile passed witness's mate on the other side of the saw, and took a sheer and struck deceased, who stood up for a moment and then full on his face. Scantling from 16ft. to 30ft. long is constantly put through at the bench, and every precaution is taken to keep the pieces from springing back on to the saw. Witness had tailed-out on and off for nine years, and had never known of a similar accident. The only thing that he could suggest to prevent such occurrences would be to prohibit traffic in a line with the saw. Those immediately attending the bench are always on the look-out, and therefore not so liable as others to be injured. The accident was purely unavoidable.
John Ross, engineer in charge of the sawing deartment at the factory, Said that Wilson and Ruxman (the men working the saw) were very careful men, and no blame could be attached to them. It was his practice to dismiss any of his hands who were not careful, and nothing could have been done to prevent the accident. From the velocity with which the saw was revolving the scantling must have struck deceased with a force equal to three tons. There was always a certain amount of risk incurred in standing behind a circular saw in motion; but, strange to say, the staircase on which White was standing when he received the blow was 4ft out of the line of the saw, so that it he had been exactly behind it he would have escaped. The distance between the staircase and saw was 46ft.
Mr Matheson stated that deceased was a native of Dumfriesshire, and had been in the Colony about a year. He leaves behind him his mother.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was recorded. -Evening Star, 25/9/1878.
The funeral of Thomas White took place yesterday afternoon at the Anderson's Bay Cemetery The company's works were closed at 3 p.m., and the entire body of masters and employes, numbering between 300 and 400, followed the remains to the grave. -Evening Star, 26/9/1878.
At a meeting of the employes of Guthrie and Larnach's New Zealand Timber and Woodware Factories Co., held yesterday, it was resolved to hold a concert at an early date for the benefit of the mother of the late Thomas White, who died last week from injuries received while at work at the factory. A committee was appointed to carry out the affair, and we hear that a number of ladies and gentlemen, including Miss Hesford, Mrs Clutsam, and Messrs Iveson, Denovan, Lennon, Oaten, Ward, and Fenner have promised their assistance. -Otago DailyTimes, 28/9/1878.
A GRAND AMATEUR CONCERT,
In aid of the Late Thomas White's Widowed Mother Relief Fund,
Will take place in the TEMPERANCE HALL
On FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1st.
All the Leading Amateurs of Dunedin have kindly volunteered their valuable assistance. For further particulars see programmes, Prices 3s 2s 1s. -Otago Daily Times, 19/10/1878.
A concert was given at the Temperance Hall last evening in aid of the fund now being raised, for the widowed mother of the late Thomas White, who was accidentally killed at Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's Woodware Factory a few weeks ago. The hall was crammed to excess, and the concert passed off with marked success. The programme was a long one. The gem was undoubtedly the violin solo contributed by Miss Essie Lack, a young lady about ten years of age. With a precision and accuracy truly wonderful for one so young, she played a fantasia on "Home, Sweet Home," full of expression and genuine pathos, and in response to a most vociferous recall, she favoured the audience with the solo "Beautiful Isle of the Sea." Mr Ibbotson sang "The Four Jolly Smiths" with excellent effect, but he had great difficulty to contend with in the careless pianoforte accompaniment. Miss Hesford sang "Come let us be Happy Together," and "True to the Last," for both of which she received imperative encores, but she was by no means so successful as she might have been. The character songs of Mr Edhouse, who has a very imposing appearance when dressed in female attire, proved exceedingly amusing, especially his burlesque of "Sweet Spirit, Hear my Prayer." The only other songs worthy of mention are "Joyous Life," by Mrs Clutsam; "Madoline," by Mr Iveson, and one by Ms Denovan. The Railway Band played one or two selections in an admirable manner. After the concert a dance was indulged in, and all who took part in it seemed to enjoy themselves to their heart's content. Mr R. T. Waters, of the Prince of Wales Hotel, catered in his usual liberal and satisfactory style. -Otago Daily Times, 2/11/1878.
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