William Thomas Burnnand - The Fatal Lift Accident

Goods lifts were never intended for passenger traffic, and riding on them was strictly prohibited. Warning notices were usually placed in prominent places  threatening a fine if any person was caught, but this did not stop a number of young teenage boys who trespassed to ride a goods lift and a few had been caught and severely reprimanded in the past .

Regretfully, one young man lost his life whilst riding on a goods lift at the Herald works 9 August 1905. William Burnnand was 16 years of age.

It was ascertained at the inquest into his death, that William had his head poking over the lift when it was struck by a beam on the upper storey. According to the Doctor in his evidence, death would have been instantaneous.

It was ascertained that at about 3.45pm on the afternoon of the accident, Mr Rogers, Engine Driver at the Herald had put the lift in motion, as instructed by the Foreman. A short while later, Mr Rogers went to check if the lift had been finished with, when he found that there had been an accident and saw others removing the body of a deceased male.

An employee in the Herald works, Mary Elmbranch, had seen the boy going up in the lift when he had handed her a handkerchief which she had dropped. She said the lift had been travelling very slowly and the boy had been its sole occupant. When questioned said she had never seen the boy before.

The Inspector of Factories remarked that a warning notice was not sufficient to stop anyone trespassing and added that even Company employees were known to ride on goods lifts. He added that his industry unfortunately had no power to stop this, and went on to suggest that employers should be held liable and penalised if the goods lift was used by employees.

A verdict of accidental death was reached, with the recommendation that legislation be introduced, compelling employers to be proactive in preventing accidents, responsible for the welfare of their staff, and liable should accidents occur.

Obituary Notice;
Burnnand : August 9 1905 accidentally killed, William Thomas, dearly beloved third son of Walter Edward and Mary Theresa Burnnand, in his 16th year.
The funeral will leave the residence of Mr C Little , Marble Arch Hobson Street today, (Friday) at 2pm for Waikumete . Friends please accept this intimation.

Grave of William Thomas Burnnand
Photo credit Cathy Currie

Anglican Division A   Row 2,
Plot 14: Albert Walter Burnnand  chain surround, no headstone
             William Thomas Burnnand (14) 1905 – Printer's Assistant
Plot 16: Walter Edward Burnnand (72) 1929 – Labourer
     Mary Theresa Burnnand (76) 1935
There is no apparent headstone, but records show words, & these details are assumed

In

Loving Remembrance

of

ALBERT WALTER BURNNAND

died July 5th 1893

aged 12 months

Also of

WILLIAM THOMAS BURNNAND

(beloved sons of)

Walter and Mary Burnnand

accidentally killed August 9th 1905

aged 15 years. 

Sources:  Paperspast https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
“The Fatal Lift Accident” The NZ Herald Volume XL11, Issue 9243,12 August 1905
Obituary, The NZ Herald Volume XL11, Issue 9242,11 August 1905
Image: Cathy Currie

Presented by Susan Reid   “Discover Waikumete “