COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1924, Page 3

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

[IIY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] KECOMI) MAIN'S. WHLIXGTOX, December 10. During the past three days, a big cyclone disturbance has prevailed over tiie whole North Island, extending to the districts on either side ol oC ook Strait. Yesterday the storm was very severe and continued with unabated violence all day.

Mailway slips are reported in many quarters. There have heecii land slips in and around Wellington, particularly at Karori, where the tramway power line ami lighting cable were brought down. Through traffic was held up. The storm water has given trouble in the city, the abnormal volume being more than the surface water drains could take. Telephone communication was interrupted in the city, hut the oflicials quickly grappled with the situation.

|n ; d| directions, the rainfall has been abnormal. At Masterton 7-Ofiins of rain were recorded in the 2-1 hours preceding !) a.m. yesterday. At Featherston o.HI ins fell, and at Wellington 2.7 tins. At Masterton 2.9Ains fell in four hours. The total rainfall 10l I lie month of in Wellington is 7. Ilins, which only one; has been excelled since the records were first taken over (ill years ago. A NARROW HSCARE. WKI-I.IXOTON, December 20. There was a narrow escape for an engine and goods train at Raeknkaiiki" The lieavv rains caused a slip on" the side of the bill. A large quantity of earth 'and clay covered the railway line. The train was coming on warily, hut as the slip was just round a corner, it could not he pulled up in time, and dashed into the slip. Driver Southall and his fireman, who received slight injuries, acted with commendable promptitude, the speed of the engine being lessened. The engine was cast over on its side. The trae. just here is carved out of a cliff. O] the seaside, there is a drop ol iJ" feet. On a narrow ledge between the two rails and tlie precipitous slope the engine held. Dot ember w. Unseasonable weather, with bitterly cold and extraordinarily heavy rain is being experienced throughout Mailborough. H is more reminiscent ol mid-winter than ’Xmas. There has been a heavy fall ol mm j„ the hack country. The rain and cohl. coming in the middle of the haivesting season, are most u,.welcome •to tbe farmers, some of whom fear the loss of crops, or. at least, serious deterioration in values. Shearing op.nations have also been seru.usl i.ituiued with.

POWER HOUSE-' FATAI.m PALMERSTON X., Ooc. 1- . Broad, continuing, said that when instructions were given to deceased, witness thought the switches were ns dead as they possibly could be. He was quite sure everything was safe. After the accident, he found that a connect ion could be made by the switch remaining closed. He remembered u afterwards. . . ... . To the Coroner: Witness said it had not occurred to his mind that 10 switch was part and parcel of the apparatus affected by the job. Husking stated, in evidence, that i was told bv the previous witness (Broad) always to examine the appalat„s. On this occasion, he and »h----eeased failed to do so. The Coroner said he Mould not comment upon the evidence, further than t 0 sav that there was no doubt ceased met his death through the ovei,i,d.t of Broad in failing to examine 'the wires connected with the apparatus dealt with, right hack to the generate before the job was started. It was a regrettable oversight, too. on the pa.t of the deceased and his fellow-mechanic. On this occasion they had fa. eel to. observe Broad’s instructions to satisty themselves of the safety of the apparatus before using it. \ verdict was returned that deceased died of a fracture of the skull caus„d bv coming into contact with the live apparatus, and falling to the concrete lloor. _