VICTIMS OF THE DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2160, 28 May 1914, Page 6

VICTIMS OF THE DISASTER

x mm persons notes THE LATE ME. ORTON STEVENS Tho nowfi of tho tragic death of Mr. Orton Stevens, the general manager of tho National Mutual Life Association ef Australasia, cast quite a gloom over the commercial section of tho city Yesterday morning. In tife offico of t-tro assoeia- ! ijim work fras practically suspended as ihz- ststf d-tseussvij the sudden call macfe on their beloved chief. And in tha streets in tl.io vicinity thcJo was only ono topic of conversation! and in every.instance the death of Mr. Stevens wi\& greatly deplored. There was little wonder that tins shoulrl be so, for Mr. Steveiis's heart) was as big aji liis lauriy frame, and his brains wove- m keeping with tlio rest of -his physical nulke-up; He. was a typical Australian, easy and oiMiand in his manners, tat alwaysgeniaS and bright. He was n keen and i tistrenvply able man of business, but*' business over lie would frolic like a' schoolboy, whether it was on tho howling green, in tho club, or in tho tiOmo circle Bo was borii vrith & merry disposition, i'.nd no one who knew him well could do otherwise than like him. As Mayor of tiio Lower Hutt he sliowod his wJiainistrativo and asjrcsident ef the Hiitt Bowling and Tenuis Club he became a very popular figure.

THE LA.TB MR. Q&TON STEVENS.

He was ohe of tlie minority wti.o eci'uM take «. boating and still he ;i.s happy as though he liftd w'Ott a ctij?'of gold. Mr. Stevens was loved and revered hy his staff, and there are no uteri? regretful inoartie-rs over tlio trag-edy that darkened yesterday tlvait tliose with whom lie had worked ivitlt <3ay h* and out-. Mr, Sterais was bom st Forbes, New South Wales, on February 2, ]gSS, .rod after leaving school entered the office of tli© Mutual AsstirauoiK Society of Victoria, which subsequently amalgamated with,the National Mutual Life Assw* iinco Society, That was in 1898, and Mr. Stevens was appointed .assistant secretary in tho Queensland office. Two years later b<? was appointed New &.n----iaiKl manager for the National Mutual, which position lie kul held fiver. since. He leaves a widoff and two. children—-a sen (Sir. Keith Stevens), who is ing in tho Wni)jssnmi district, and a daughter, who is living at Ikiuw at tho tower Hutt. When the news readied Wellington of the catastToplifi Mrs. Stevens was ro-sidiut; at Paekakafiki. and on telegraphing there it was found that sho with etlfars had gone picnicking Xα Piimmerton, nnd ihpre the sad news was broken to fief , . Sim will have tunny sincere sympathisers in her tcr- . riblo bereavement. For tlio past fortnight Mr. Stevens : lias born inspecunf; tlm erawiaUon's \ in the Wansahni district. Hβ : rotiiriMfi ifl the office ori Monday morning, md that day fiimoui>«?d his inten* : tioii of lenriftg for Auckland to do similar work in tot diaifict. j Tiro body of the late Mr. Orton ! Stevens Ims teen taken to Auckland, I where a» inquest will lie'hold to-day. After tlw ifKitfrrr tho body will be I brought to Wellington (Hutt) for inj terment. ■ ■ MR, G; N. GRIMSTOKE . . _ i ifcvvs was received i>y the Native T.)«- | partrnent yesterday evenins tl'mt" , Mt. I G. N. Gritnsloiw had dic-r] at 3.50 i>.m. I sis a result »f internal injuries sustsim- | eel in tlie artifeit. The lata Mr. Grimstone was a married irtan, thirly-snvon years of afjoj and tho sympatliy fr-H for his widow is deepened by tlie. fsict thai, tlu? family j mimben seven chiidwn, the youngest of whom isfconly two months oW". Mr. GririJ'stoiie enterej) "the Native Departacit as a cadet nineteen y*ors asoj and had served in.it continuously ever since, fie had just teen promoted to Mi's position of Registrar of-tlio Tokeravi (North Aueklaud) Native T.?'\-l Court, ftiKl prevwnsly had bo<?n f-lerk tn the Chief J.iulgf? of the Native- Land Courfii Sir. Griii'.stoiw was <?u Miste t« Aud-c-i land to lake no tho dvitks of his »ew I position and lialil arransed'tliat 1-iis «;if<s j ami family should follow stoily. l)e- i wasetl was na extwrfc billsartl player awl llio winner of. tlie Crystailain Cmi, . vvhicii oarriVs with it ti.vr- fliviateur billiard championship of AX'ellingtoft. Mβ, C. PETERSON $ Mr. Charles IVU-rson, -of tlw-Jnines j I". M'Keuisie rroprie'tary, Hclbourn©)

was on ft holiday visit to New Zealand ami was travelling in company with Air. Stuart Murray, of the. firm of Messrs. Murray, Roberts, and Oβ. While in. Wellington he stayed at the Wellington Club.

THE INJURED MEN

MR. H. A* FOX. Mr. H. A. Fox, who is reported to nave sustained injuries to both his tegs is tho managing director of tho. Otfico appliance Company, of power Cuba street, Wellington. ' Mr. Fox was making a. business trip to Auckland when the accident happened. Do is a married man of middle ago, with one son, nun is a skilfal imrtlciiHaraiist, who ravmire tlie culture of roses and carnations. Mr. j, swmsoN. Mr. John Swmson is the local maim- -j ger Iμ- Messrs, Chandler and Co. a?- ! vertismg contractors, and tbovigh ho { has not bo«a in Wellington' loajg", he is ! very well known. Mr. Svinson.' who is i a married i»an, about 39 years' of age. ■ resides at Hwtt. He was on a business trip to tiro Auckland headquarters wliqii the tragedy occurred. Priwte advices were received .Yesterday afternoon to the effect that M*. Sirinsoh was -progressing satisfactorily. Mβ. C. E, HOWARD.. Mr. G. E. Howard, reported amongst tliu injured, is the 'accountant to the. Anclstepd branch of the XattaaJ Mutual Life Association, awl was trsv-el-Sing to Auckland in company with Mi*. Orton Stoveus, Ho is. a young man, and unmarried. MR. H. C. MACKAY. I Mr. H. G. Mackay is inspector for the Commercial Bitjik of Australasia. ; He was formerly in the baiirs at Melbourne,. _ and has jmst spout six u-cote in Wellington relieving the.local manager, vvlw lias been on leav^i WELMWQTON SYMPATHY.

At the ttnnnai meotiiig of tl» Wellington Chamber, of Cossiniereo , ye&terdsy, touching refewjnee %'&§ niado to t-to dontli of Mr, Ortmi S-toveni .Before proeeedujg with the .business of th'O meeting i-fo president (Mr. C W, Jones) said thftt the attonsianoe . hail hcC'ii much afectefl by the sad oewrrence. The pessibility <of jiostjwing the meeting, had Keen isoiisidei'«d, but it had been jecided te g<i on -with if, in view of the fact tlfflt all arraHgc'piijnte had been liia-dc, afid fllso taking into eoiiskleratioß the fact tliat the aiij-ws lted. arrived such- a short .time .before this Uicctih.!*. Tho - late Mr.. Si-tiverisj . ijo kne.H'j would havo Ijbi3i,.thp test to alloiy , thcta to pat oil tteiv la'epiitng. Ho moved a.vote of_cendole}icb jritft.tiie.retitivi&s ftf the deceased. . ' .. ''

Tke motion, was «4fficd irt sileMe, the Biem'jaiis Stan-duig.' ; . . . Later Mr. J. Haeintoih\ a\ .prjsbjiil frtp-nd of tie (leeftased., sj>oke jn foel&i-a terms of tlie- sad tragedy. The Mayor <Mr. j> I s .' Luke) said that tlio Wellington mo'ttrned ftiSn the relatives in iht> . deatb of Sir. Stevens, Tho late geiitlema.ii wab ijjisro thftli a bttsinoss man, as ho hii4 ■ taWii a groat ifltefest in the. civic affaire of Lew Hiitt. Iho s.rHjp'atlij ef WcHirig* toil wottkl also, go out to' tiiosa ether's., strsjigei's though they iniglit hu, wlro had teen inrartd.in.the accident, ' Tlie Ho'b. C. 3H liiritfi.aiid o'tliG.r ineisi' bbrs'spolvo in similai' tftfiftis.

At the tfteftti% of the Wefiinljfteii 3>raueh. of tho Sow Xiwfciid * Spbrts l'rdteetimi League.-keis night the pvesi* d#i-t (Mv, C. P. Ske-frttt) spoke wift regret <rf the svi-dtteji jinsl tragw deaHi of a member of t-fie.h - braiicJi. Mr. Ortoii Stoveiis. . Hβ , was a. jwa'w, said Mr, ;§:feei;rstt,' who was liked bj , everyone; kifi-d-Iv, eonsidwato, aii<l'i\ man. w'Jto did his ditty, not only to tlio.dty, but.'-to tiio opinfnuiiity and .to Wβ homo and family. To fflost'of them it was a shock when they 3-ieaffl of the sudden death of s<? proteisiug a man.; a mte -whoso career Itad not rcaclted the iftiiift of its great--«ess. He oslscd,tiic ine-Bibers- to. pass % yesohitkm ftf synnjafty with tlio widow of tlto kto Mr. Stevens, <mi tto tafaftuiiate Ijorcave-niß-nt which she an& .her faitoily liad suflcrcd.

'She motion was carried wWl'o ruembcrs siepd in sympathy. 'Before itio otdhiary Tffls'aiess df -tm HiirWuf Board njo&tin'g cfinimeheed teTclniy, Mr. R. Hetciier fehatrman , ) iiiadii wforeuce to the sad atjoident, u\r\ he imoverl tlio foHowing: resoliition: | "Tliat tliis boflM places on reeord its ] ■&fe.t!est> syfflpatliy Tviththe relatives .of ] the"sufferers by tte Wtijjrtijr disftstef j whteh ocdurred to tlw Jfoin Trunk ex- j press ivearllei-efir this day, 'May .87, 1914." ; ' A telegra.to of condolence has beoft foi'sVardetl to Mrs. trrimstone by the ] Ptinie Minister; . j THEIffaclRY MACHINJSaY MOVIDED LAST YEAS. . ; The. Hoti. \V. H,' Berries (Minister m Railways) ini'oraied a report&r yestenla.y. that 9, IJopxirteoiital inquiry «-ould hp hold into the eircunistancesipf theflcci" dcirt, Iwt ttoat It Blight p bo mweeessary' to hold any puWic inquiry other than the inquest-upon, tlw vittims-, A dm* sion upon this paint wowld' be reserved. instil after the inquest. : Until .Uisi year the- Cfeyerfltnent had! no power to rardar a. pubitn mrruiry (ii-s distinct from' aHv.'MKjWst) ni(o the eireiiwstaMes of a railway acsident, awil it will bo roMemtered that iii the case of' tJie Sew Lynn coEision an inquiry had. to be arranged by way of petition .to: the H<«ise of EoiirOßontetives. The! Government Kaihvaye Aot ffif last session, however, {wovides. that the Ministc? of Railways may orcter t a public inf?uiry ©n such an oecisioiij. if no th.iisfe, it necessary to do Sβ, Scctton tl of that A.ctv rtwls as fol'btf&:— , / . "(1) Where aij acftident has'occurred i<o any tram resultiiif; In injury te any : passenger travelling tJiewhjr. tlio Miiifetor may otdei , an to he felcl. into ■ the cireeinsKiHCeS hv a VoaTtl ceiiEtf.i- , t«t;«l as; ferehiafto* provided. ' ' ■ "(2) The htiaftl sbhli he appaintrf by : tlio Miiiietej'i and stiatt consist rf 9 .magistrate, who shall preside, alid two assess&rs (not ffle.fflbefs tf tk a - railwa* ■ sorrice), both of wjioni mwsi have had ejc&prienr© in rijtihva.? working. ■ "(A) The hoii'td snail have jww«r to ■ stimiflen witnesses aivd , to hear any evidence on oiitli which it mny deeaj ftdces-sai-y for tlig purposes <jf the iiiMiiry, ! "(4) Auv person oflildenied in an tn* . qniry under tliis Section may atipear hi?' forn'the board either personally «r. liy an apteiit aDpointed by him in writing, in that behalf* Such, agent niay bo a barrister" or solioitor, or a iHnintior of the Deixftrtment, or tlio secretary of a.ity so- } ciety of tnenibers (if tfai SettaftmetHt reeosnisfrd hv the Minister, "<S) A full report, tnpoiheir vitli the (■vidonV-f i.ikni at tlio inqwify, sbij'll 'he. r.nb«--ii * ■ ! nv the board to tlie.MiijWei-, Uiff-o-i vii-li sweh wiinion and reinarlcs as iV. ' r<l thinks fit.' ■ "(7) 'llu , bsis-rd may fis.tlic oosis <tf the ieiiuiry, and 'direct by whmn and in ft'hdt proportion they sUa'tl be pfivable. "(8> Espeilsesdf shall b<? rejralhteel aceflrdiug to the sealo for the time. liei»ij 'iiL force, Wider tho traces' Court Act, 1903., in tho o.nse vt witnesses who as* Mfc lflerabpra of the Depai'tiiiMit, and. in the case of witnesses who are members xensona-Ue oxidises shall , I» aliowod. "(9) Cost* awarded shall be. recovetflUe ns a'debt iltve to the Crowu. "(10) Tlie Jliflister may, jf in any ease ho thinks fit, pay the eosts «f the inqnivy, "(11) The inflniry shull bo hold hi wnio public tmildiug or vMtht suii'ilild liJsK-e, Init shall not bo held in a jjlacc Oi'diii.wiiy used as n Pnlref! Cwwrt. "(12) Tlw- MiagtttiMtn Bsav Aetvih iii fach easa whether tlw ftrocijodiußs shall be open te the Press."

MEYIOUS DISASTEBS I'Jw most serious railway nw;i<tett which 'has ever ocettrrcd in Now Zealand was tin. , ; collision nt Kiskaia on the evcuiDg of March 11, 1899 Two iiwivv excursion tfains were.on iheir way isac : k to Christctiiifph filled with picnickers, oxts twenty jnmnlits ahead' t>F tire oilier. The front one stopped at Rahaia to wait for. tiro iiassiisg ei a train bound south, there were no eiftiials, S.ii.d a nisin.vns sent with a ls.ii.ip to step- ilw sccoiw.l ox•«arskm train, -birt- was Uα lato to avert tlisastci'. Ait attempt ivas uiadfi to wove the fwmfi train.alieafl, ljiit tiro otlwr crashed mte it, and two of tbo rearniost vehicles -fiwe tdfeseojied. Thrco yowia women and a. eWIA were killed and hc-t-wee-ii 30 a'-rtd 40 people were more or less seriously injured.

An collision ottnirrfid trt New Lynn, a few miles north of Auck- ; lawli on May 98 fart year. A passenger- train comfrig feoin the lwitii, with about seventy on board., van Into ;>. locomotive, close to the New Lynn station, tlje train being at the tifito on a Gfiiiifl bridge over a ,decp creeb. The Efcoiid imd third carriages wore- completely telescoped into each other,- aiia .the , passengers hod ft rairactileos escape. About twenty people Were hurt, but liobodv ms killed, T)in most sorioas railway newdent In ■ the Wellington district occurred on Saturday morftiiiE, Sept-ember 11, 1180, when t-Wis «arrfag«s and a van., formws : tort of a train eoffliiig to WelhftKtttn from ttie Wairafap.il., was Mown over.Hie. Rimiitaka Incline, and rolled -down l-itto tlie valley. Three j (h daughter <rf the- kit- s)r. Dliartes: Plinrnzyn). NMjotos, airtl QuuWv—were. killed, and a' iitiiiVbor of passengers iii» io'fod. On June 2a, 1905,,' two men wM Jcillediin as accident a* OfcnMvV Cross- ; ing. about ten miles from Very .heavy fains IkkJ fuvivsed tJjo AViH» inaliauri to .flootl, and the railway lisid Ise'pi) *«tltenei h' »in Jni'isibio wymout. The. ti.no .gftvc way Mlld.c tlicivß.igM of an (jhjiifte.tlrawfeK the »iiMn.V tiwm frW Ch.fis.tel:tm# to 'Kniapoi.. and tho. Tails hrol?e> the eiigiße. Tbft fir-si aii'd soCftnd catriapes *'«■<? ranwed together, and Jfessrs. B. J, Alexander Slid Jolvti iieiiards. both ■ of Kaiapoi., - wore lilfel m A most extramemary waVj tliorr iioads BeittK almost sflve-rel, 'tiy Wse edg-e .of -eiife carriage roof aj»a!ttst tlie oust f>f the .ofljor t.ai ; riag^.. A tttifd man hatl both lefts Woluin. ■... A goods train horn iViicMand ;to Hfl-tfr-nsa,rah away tin. August 4, M 7, ajia fsifehe.d ever an ajjibftiikuwnt. tie gMftid, J, Love, )jg»R,WVM,; and tired o-tters. injftred. Tno train-was going tin. a steep incline', and Sutßerily. lieonins . 4c,iaelied frffiin tJfe eflfife. .the : WpStii#flu«j did not', act- Ofo-Oerly, and ths whole trcifa rah' haels till it MAched n wilvbrt, ami thei) inpphi down tlt& embankment tefo a gtflly -40ft. below. •'