George Todd, (1884-3/8/1932). "struck by a piece of concrete"

HYDRO WORKS TRAGEDY

TWO DUNEDIH WORKERS KILLED 

Our Oamaru correspondent reports that a sudden fall of earth at Kurow at the Hydro works, at about 7 o’clock last evening, resulted in the death of a ganger named George Todd, a widower, forty-eight years of age, lately living at 30 Reid road, Dunedin. John Muir, a labourer, living at 17 Dalmeny street, Dunedin, who had his leg broken in two places, was removed to the Oamaru Hospital and succumbed this morning. Herbert B, Williamson, living at Waireka Junction, who received a slight injury to his head, was able to return to his home after treatment.  -Evening Star, 4/8/1932.

TRAGEDY AT KUROW WORKS

CAUSED BY FALL Of CONCRETE 

[From Our Correspondent.] Inquies this morning elicited the fact that the tragedy at the hydro works was caused by the fall of a block of concrete, not a fall of earth as generally supposed. It appears that this block of concrete was formerly the foundation base for a mass of machinery used in construction work, but since removed, necessitating the removal of the concrete. Boring operations had commenced preparatory to blasting, when the whole mass caved in, killing immediately the ganger (George Todd), who had recently resided in Dunedin, seriously injuring John Muir (Dunedin). who succumbed to his injuries shortly after in the Oamaru Public Hospital, and injuring Herbert B. Williamson (Waiareka Junction). 

An inquest was opened yesterday at Kurow before the district coroner (Mr W. H. Frith), and was adjourned sine die. The inquest on the death of John Muir was also adjourned sine die.  -Evening Star, 5/8/1932.

TWO MEN KILLED

SUDDEN FALL OF EARTH

ACCIDENT AT WAITAKI DAM

Two men were killed at the Waitaki Hydro Works by a sudden fall of earth lust Thursday, while they were excavating on the Otago bank of the Otago coffer-dam. The. men were George Todd, 48 years of age, of Dunedin, and John Muir, of Dunedin. Todd was killed instantaneously. Muir had a leg broken in two places, and was removed to the Oamaru Hospital, but he died early next morning. A third man, Herbert B. Williamson, was slightly injured, but was able to return to his home after he had received treatment. 

Shortly before the accident, which occurred about 7 p.m., the men with five others had been working at the bottom of an earth face on the bank, which was about 20 feet high, making excavations preparatory to placing a charge of gelignite to bring some of the earth down. They had made the necessary excavations and several had gone away to get the gelignite when part of the bank face slipped suddenly, pinning the three men under it. Todd was apparently struck by a piece of concrete in the earth, and was killed instantaneously. 

A number of men were working nearby, and help was soon obtained, the three men being extricated within a few minutes. Dr. B. G. MacMillan, of Kurow, was called. Muir was immediately taken to the Oamaru Hospital by the Waitaki Hydro Medical Association's ambulance, which is stationed at the camp. He had, however, apparently sustained internal injuries, and did not live long after he had been admitted. 

An inquest was opened at Oamaru on Muir, and another at Kurow on Todd, the Coroner (Mr. W. H. Frith) conducting both. Each was adjourned sine die. 

It is stated that both men were comparatively recent arrivals at the camp, although Todd had worked there before the temporary closing of the works. Todd leaves a large family, and it is thought that Muir leaves a wife and child. This is the first time that there has been any fatal accident at the works resulting from a fall of earth.  -Evening Post, 8/8/1932.

Oamaru Cemetery.