WELLINGTON TRAM ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2074, 8 May 1907, Page 1

WELLINGTON TRAM ACCIDENT.

Press Association. W ELLINGTON, yesterday. The inquest on the victim of the Brooklyn tramway fatality was continued. to-day. The city solicitor intimated that tests conducted by the Public Works Department had not yet been completed. Stuart Richardson, city electrical engineer, described the movements of the car which met with the accident. He was not prepared to give opinions about the cause of the ear running away at .present-. Ho wished to thoroughly examine the car, and hoar the principal witnesses. The enquiry is proceeding.

George Ernest Janies, traffic superintendent, said lie considered the cars of the type in question were safer for taking curves than the smaller car. He had formed no theory about tlio cause of the accident. Rea, the motorman, might have been on duty 9 hours with two spells. The speed limit on the Brooklyn line was 7i miles an hour. If a motorman was late he was asked for an explanation, but was not fined. Rea was running a special car which had to fit ill with ordinary cars. Reliable men were picked for this special service. He. believed Rea was a cool, steady man. : Richard Elliott, a passenger by the car, said ho saw the motorman putting on the hand brake, but did not kiiow about the other brakes. AA'itness knew some time before the accident that the ear was beyond control. He believed that from tlio commencement of the journey the motorman handled the brakes properly. Tlio enquiry was adjourned for lunch.

Arthur Smith, another passenger, said he believed Elliott's evidence was correct. He could not say whether there had been any skidding. He bad nothing to suggest as to tlie cause of the accident. The lnotorinan was doing all lie could. Louis Frederick AVeber said that he was in charge of a car which met Rea’s about 50 yards on the city side of the Seager loop. Rea backed up to the loop. AVitness passed and did not see Rea again. Ho had never known either the magnetic or hand break to fail. He had no prejudice against palace cars like No. 55, and he know of no general prejudice against them. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned provisionally till 2.15 on Friday.

NELSON, yesterday. The funeral of the late Airs. Bell, victim of the AVellington tramway accident, took place at Richmond yesterday. Three Methodist clergymen assisted, and there was a record attendance of representatives of all parts of the district, including Murchison and Upper Buller. Some must

have travelled two days in order to show the great respect felt for the. family. The late Mrs. Bell was a sister of Mr. Sheat, the new Mayor of Richmond. Mr. Bell’s condition is evoking anxious enquiry from Murchison, where ho is a very popular and useful resident'. MARITIME MISHAPS. Press Association.—Copyright. ADELAIDE, May 7. The Marine Board found the captain of the Ardencraig failed to navigate the vessel with sufficient care, in view of the weather conditions. The finding has been forwarded to the Board of Marine Inquiry. Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. As a result.of the enquiry into the stranding of the steamer lnvcran the Court hold that tho master of tho ship was guilty of an error of judgment in not paying out more cable, and that the third officer w&s negligent in not looking after the safety of the ship, especially as ho was well, acquainted with Wellington Harbor, and that he ought to have paid out moro chain on both anchors; that the chief officer having come on deck and taken charge of the paying out of the chain, ought to have given the ship moro cable, and ought not to have left the, deck before taking steps to ascertain whether or not the ship had moved her position. The Court ordered tho certificate of the third officer to be suspended for one month. Counsel for Captain Marshall pointed out that' there was no warning-in the New Zealand Pilot about Wellington Harbor. The President v«: plied that the (fomthad not_ lost sight of that fact. Had there- been a warning tho Court might have dealt otherwise.