Yesterday afternoon word was received from Kawakawa that an accident had occurred at the Waipuna timber mills, resulting in the death of Albert Farrer, a married man and father of one child. The victim had been working at a tail saw, when a piece of timber had hit him in the chest, causing injuries which resulted in his death. An inquest was held at Kawakawa yesterday afternoon. -Northern Advocate, 9/9/1920.
THE WAIPUNA TRAGEDY.
A GRIEVOUS INCIDENT,
DEATH INSTANTANEOUS
The inquest held at Waipuna on Thursday last concerning the death of Mr Albert Saies on the preceding day disclosed some very distressing facts. Mr H. C. Blundell was the acting-coroner, and the jury associated with him were Messrs J. W. Jeffcote (foreman), D. M. Sinclair, J. J. Jackson and W. Lowrer.
A brother of the deceased, Frederick Saies, who, is also employed at the mill, said that he was working at the tailing-out when the fatality occurred. A piece of timber caught on top of the saw, was thrown back very forcefully and struck the deceased, who was working at the head of the breast bench. Another millhand, Edward Beasley, said that he observed the deceased put two 9xl pieces of timber on the top of the saw. Afterwards a portion of the timber flew back with such force that it penetrated the deceased's body, the point emerging a foot on the other side. Witness explained that the two 9xl pieces were cut off by the band saw and handed to the breast bench where they were made into 6x2, leaving a piece 3xl at the side. It was as the latter piece which recoiled and killed deceased, whose death was instantaneous.
Similar testimony was given by Albert Ashby, cutting foreman at the mill, who added that he promptly stopped the band-saw when deceased fell, and was present when another worker named Rodgers pulled the piece of timber out of deceased's body. All prescribed precautions had been taken by the Kauri Timber Company to obviate accidents.
After an adjournment to enable the jury to view the scene of the accident, evidence was given by Dr. S. Green, of Kawakawa, who said that he noted a wound on the right side of deceased's chest and a corresponding one on the left side near the shoulder. In the course of its penetration the timber would pass almost directly through the upper part of the heart and the great blood vessels, causing instantaneous death.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anyone.
The funeral of the victim of the mishap took place at Kawakawa on the afternoon of Thursday, the cortege including all the mill staff and a large number of returned soldiers, Mr Saies having been a member of the R.S.A. The deceased, who was 28 years of age, leaves a wife and one child. -Northern Advocate, 14/9/1920.
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