The Globe. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 31, 6 July 1874, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1874.

Wk should like to know by whose carelessness it was, that two trains were very nearly coming into collision on Eriday last, on the Lyttelton and Christchurch lino. There must have been gross negligence somewhere, and we have great cause to be thankful that a frightful accident did not take place, as must have been the case if the trains had met in the tunnel. A correspondent of the " Press" this morning informs us, that the bell in use in the tunnel " is not to be relied " on as far as the safety of the railway " is concerned, for it is liable any " moment to be out of order." It is so bo hoped that those in authority, will enquire at once into the matter, and that the blame may fall upon the right shoulders. It is not long ago that the Loudon " Daily News "made the statement, that railway accidents ill Knglund " above all rule or order," and it would appear that the railway

management here mean to be English in their proceeding, when they start trains from both ends of a single line at the same time. The correspondent we have mentioned, also calls for competent telegraphists, " to attend to the stations —not half " learned boys put there to learn at " the public expense, and liable at any " moment to make a mistake, because " their practice is not sufficient to " learn it." We wish we could get a competent telegraphist at every station, but the fact is, that we cannot afford to pay thorn if we could get them, which we very much doubt. The last sentence of the letter we have quoted from, expresses a hope that if the Provincial Government cannot manage their railways, the General Government will take them over and see them worked properly ; but we are afraid we should gain little by the change. There has been an unusual amount of jealousy and trouble in the Kailway Department in Canterbury ever since the first line was opened, but we hope that it has nearly died out now, and we wore under the impression that under new management everything would go on smoothly; but the narrowness of the escape on Friday last makes us dubious, and it is evident enough that "some one has " blundered." "We are rapidly increasing our lineß of railway, and in a few years may hope to have a very large portion of the country opened up. The traffic will naturally be increasing every year, and if we are to have such errors of judgment as that of Friday last, on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line, our chance of having a very large crop of accidents in the year, when the lines now in formation are opened, will be great indeed.