RISKY PIECE Of LINE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 11

RISKY PIECE Of LINE.

IN PALMERSTOX. ; (By Teieerapli.'-Sii'cciaJ CorreEDondent.' Palmersion, November 11. Tlie unfenecd state of the railway line through nearly two miles of Palmerstem's main street, which eamo into renewed prominence last week when the Auckland express _ struck two children, has been the subject of sharp expressions of opinion by tho Borough Council. Addressing the council on Monday urpflit, Councillor Crabb said that there .Were sore hearts in Palmersfcin in conSequence of the reeoat tragedy. The Government was tittite as responsible, if not more so, with regard to rectifying tho unf-enccd state of the railway as it Was for watchinS dangerous tramcars in Wellington. Tho council should fight tho matter to tho end, and cabso the Department to realise tliat, in matters of" human life, it- was subject to the same duties as private persons. Councillor Woon said that hundreds of mothers in the vicinity of the railway line lived in . constant" dread of harm to their little ones._ The Mayor said that he had three times tmava.ilirtgly represented the d.aiigei- to the Department, It was quite common for children to play on the lino; and, even since the accident, ho had half a dozen times warned children off. On one occasion he had seen a baby IS_ months of age crawling over to the rails. The council resolved to draw tho Department's attention ■ to the danger of trains passing each other at crossings, and carried the following resolution: — "That the council its deep regret that the neglect of the_ Government, after reneated applications for fencing tho railway, led .to the recent fatal accident. It expresses indignatien at mich neglect, and urges again tho extreme necessity of such fencing bei'iig done immediately." Copies of the. resolution will be sent to tho Prime Minister, the Minister of Railways, and ! Mr. D. Buick, M.P., with an estimate of the cost of a wire-netted feneo prepared by tho Borough Engineer.