Person Page - 228

WALLAROO, October 3.
In the courthouse at Wallaroo the Coroner (Mr. W. H. Hilton) held an inquest regarding the death of George Henry Millard Banks, 62, who died suddenly at the Wallaroo-Mount Lyell Phosphate Works at Wallaroo. Inspector Beerworth appeared on behalf of the Police Department to assist the Coroner. Mr. L. H. Shepley appeared on behalf of the widow and relatives, and Mr. Hogan on behalf of the Wal laroo-Mount Lyell Company. Evidence of identification was given by Frank Banks, a brother, who said his brother had been in good health, and had never complained of being ill. Evidence was given by Stanley Roy Lockwood, Norman Edward Dickens, and John D. Phillips, jun., fellow em ployes of the deceased, that Banks, who was in charge of the furnace on the Sunday, had to clean out the dis charge screw. He wore his resporator as usual. He then complained that he felt ill, and spoke about the dust. He sat down on a box and smoked his pipe when he suddenly fell forward on his his face and died in a few minutes. He had been on this job for about ten years, and his health was considered good. Dr. W. H. Harbison, of Wallaroo, stated that he made a post mortem ex amination of the deceased and found that the heart was dilated and in a flabby condition. The dose of gases or fumes that he complained about could not have brought about the condition of the heart as he found it. The Coroner found that death was due to natural causes, to wit a dilated heart.⁵

Mr George Henry Millard Banks, of Cornish terrace, Wallaroo, who died suddenly at his work at the W.M.L. Fertilisers Co. on Sunday afternoon, at the age of 62 years, was the eldest son of Mrs Banks, senr. and the late Mr Thos. Banks. The deceased was born in Somerset, England, and came out with his parents at the age of 12 years, and had resided at Wallaroo for almost 50 years. For many years he was employed by the Smelting Co., and for the past 12 years at the roasting furnaces at the W.Mt. Lyell Co. He is survived by his widow, who was Miss Hannah Middlebrook, one son, (Mr Wilfred Banks, Wallaroo), and Mrs Haines (Blackwood), his mother, five brothers (Messrs Alf., Frank and Thomas, Wallaroo; Richard, Ceduna; Vic., Adelaide); and a sister (Mrs. Clark, Adelaide).
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon at the Wallaroo cemetery, and there was a big attendance of relatives, friends, fellow employees, and townspeople. The service at the house and the grave was conducted by the Rev. H. White, and the services of the Rechabite and Foresters lodges were read by Bros. J. D. Phillips, senr., and R. Rees. The bearers were Messrs Rees and Bates (Foresters), Jones and Mellow (Recha bites), and Lockwood and Chynoweth (W.M.L. Co.)⁵