TRAMCAR AND 'BUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1905, Page 5

TRAMCAR AND 'BUS.

INQUEST OPENED AND S ADJOURNED. JURYMEN'S BXDERS—A PSOTBST.

The inquest on Mrs Elizabeth Foster, killed in the tram and "bus collision in Svmonds-strec-l on Monday, was opened to-day by the coroner (.Mr Gresham) at the public hospital. The jury of six selected from residents near the scene of the accident consisted of Messrs. Thos. Read (foreman), Thos. Russell, Walter Henry King, and Alexander John Burrow (all of Bymonds-street), John McDougall (Khyber Pass), and Fred. Hitchcock. (Newton-road). Mr T. Cotter appeared on behalf of the Auckland City Council, Mr J. C. Martin for the uiotomian of the Tramway Company, and Mr F. Earl for Ml'ssrs. Pullan, Armitage and Co., and the 'bus driver. Sergeant Hendry represented the

police. After the jury had viewed the body evidence of identification was given by Mi' G. Foster, husband of the deceased. Sergeant Hendry asked that the Court should view the scene of the accident, the ruins of the 'bus, which was still lring there, and the tramear. if available for inspection. He understood from the hospital authorities that the 'bus driver, Ganley, would probably be fit to give evidence in eight or ten days, and he suggested that the inquiry should be adjourned till that time. It was arranged that the inquest should be adjourned till March 2nd, at the Central Hotel, at 10 a.m. Mr Earl asked that an expert should be instructed to view the tram-car before it was finally repaired for use.

The Coroner agreed as to tie advisability of this being done, and said that this was his reason for asking that both the 'bus and the tram-ear should be kept unaltered till the jury had seen them. He was sure the Tramway Company had no wish to conceal anything, but, of course, they would desire to get the ear into working order again without unnecessary delay. Mr Martin said there would be no difficulty placed in the way of Mr Earl seeing the car, provided he did it quickly. But the car would not be kept idle after the jury had seen it. The Coroner said he thought it was beyond him to make any order in the matter. Mr Earl respectfully submitted that it was well within the Coroner's right to order that the tram-car be detained •till it had been examined by some one having special knowledge. The Coroner: There must be some limit. Mr Earl: Twenty-four hours? The Coroner: 1 think you will find that .-the. company will do that. The foreman of the jury suggested that a mechanical engineer should be employed instead of a civil engineer, who would probably know no more than they would. The Coroner asked Mr Martin if lie p would, have a plan prepared giving the necessary particulars of the scene of the accident and of {be road under repair from Khyber Pass to the point of the collision. . Mr Martin undertook to do so. Mr Earl said he had already had a plan prepared by a surveyor. • A juryman observed that they were all very familiar with the place, as every one of them lived on the spot. Dr. J. Hardie Neil, the medical witness, was then examined. He said he was driving down Symonds-street in ■company with his driver, named Whitford, about 0.15 p.m., having just left the Cricket Ground. When passing the Jewish Cemetery he heard a crash beiund him. He immediately looked round, and saw the 'bus being driven forward by a tram-car amid a cloud of dust and debris. The 'bus was pushed down the street and toward the west «de of the road. It was difficult for to estimate the distance for which "o bus was pushed, because he was end-on to the course it took. He hashed to_ the .rescue, and found Mrs Foster lying in front of the off . side fe wheels of the tram-ear. She had apparently gone under the front of the 2+ ? beli6Ved the front wheels must have gone over her. To his lay S5 V Ppea " d that unless the tody °t the deceased was dragged alon* th° Potion in which it waT lyin° would gaat. that the tram-car only travel V len gth after the impact. m T thpK T aS at thi3 sta S e tak *° to the skiill 7 ' / nd ° n returDin S said H be.? JM fractur *d two places, by lit* th e se in J uries were tW fv. T nction - and ™s satisfied body ™ e w did not °° over th 9 I 6 , * aim > "°wever, was earth ?* the elW > evidently V a gOiDg ° Ver !t - and thew were «P" pa,? 13e f ;\ nd abrasi ° ns on th* ♦he L i he chesL These were ir e h :tel f th \ in J uries - Th' only arm n ? ark ™« that on the *«>ctnrcof e f ? lai ? USe of death wa& an & 6kUl1 ' and this was 3Ueh a nrr^r beCaUSedbyPaSS - D r No?] 6 reqUest of Sergeant Hendrv, non n.^ 8 f O4 further examin on hesh Ca , Points of the aff * ir - but «ie inai s t re - 6d f ° r that when One n L res umed next month. .CoronerVhetir^ 1611 r ° S6 to ask the toght hri«» • aUy verdlct which they nscooSSl + - Saßtel "' who raade certain Tboso reeommendaeffeet ww\ ad not been ca ™ed into whether h wanted to know was th *t their my USe t0 ex P ect iaken aL Md ! ct ln this case would be were to 7 £ c of ' or they i, tho° there da y after da y. »° d ■ atirely ignored° recommendations he be CO r p On - r^ The verdict ° f the JUT lhat they v!n • " the jUr y COnsider ay addiZ -i serve an 7 useful purpose C ™5," de « they can do 80 P Upon "*y not b P f°? er P roce e d ings may or Hp™**^ Beyond that x oan seene 6 _P°^ rt th en rose to inspect the and the i colliason « tho smashed 'bus ' mo the o m" 10 "' to B" ide them in hear " I The , 6nce 't° be g iven on March 2. •by' teS kag . c of the ' bu s wiU prob- '• De 'emoved to-day