"The injuries received by Private Samuel Magee through being struck by a tablet arm at Taupiri on Tuesday resulted in his death at the Waikato Hospital early this morning. Magee was operated on immediately after reaching the hospital but his case was considered hopeless from the outset, and he died, without regaining consciousness, at two o'clock.  The inquest was opened at the Waikato Hospital this morning, before the district coroner, Mr. Rawson. George Pearson Hayward a member of the ninth reinforcements and a friend of deceased, gave evidence of identification. He was not in the carriage with Magee when the accident happened. 

Nature of the Injuries:  Dr.Stuart McKay, senior house surgeon at the Waikato Hospital, said Magee was unconscious when admitted. He was paralysed along one side, while large quantity of blood was issuing from a wound in the head. The wound extended 2 1/2 in. back from the forehead to the top of the head. On the right side the bone had been completely carried away, and large portion of the brain lacerated. It was freely exposed, and the injury was consistent with his having collided with the tablet arm. Magee did not recover consciousness, and died at 2 a.m. as the result of shock from the head injury. Alexander Hyland, who was struck on the forearm by the tablet arm, said there was a quantity of liquor in the carriage in which he, Magee, and about 20 other men travelled, but none of them could be considered under the influence of drink. At this stage the inquest was adjourned till October 22. Inspection of the Tablet. Mr. Rawson this afternoon inspected the tablet stand at Taupiri, and the carriage on which the accident happened. From his inquiries and deductions, the explanation possibly is that someone, who was standing on the carriage platform nearest the engine tender, waving his arm, struck the sling lever on the tablet arm before it had time to rise above the danger zone. The force of the impact bent the steel arm, causing it to jam against, and remain fixed against, the wooden pillar. While in this position. - Magee, who was leaning out of the fourth window of the carriage, came in contact with the steel-work, which remained a danger to the whole train. Had others been leaning out at the same level, there is little doubt more would have been injured.  

Apparatus of New Design: The tablet in use at Taupiri was only recently installed, and is one of an entirely new design. Two arms project from the upright pillar, one at the top which stands out at height level with the middle of a carriage window, and another below the window level. Receiving and releasing the tablet does not throw the arms back as with the old design, but flings the upper arm upwards and the lower one downwards. The accident evidently occurred as a result of the apparatus failing to work as intended. Senior-Sergeant Cassells, of Hamilton, paid a visit to Taupiri early this morning, and made an examination of the tablet stand. He found a quantity ol blood and hair adhering to the crossbar on the upper tablet arm, which was badly twisted, as though struck by something of a very solid nature. The standing pillar was splintered. The body will be taken to Auckland by the Main Trunk express to-morrow morning. Private Magee will be accorded a military funeral. "  [New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16048, 14 October 1915, Page 6]