DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1927, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) RAILWAY -MISHAP ON REEFTOX LINE. GREY-MOUTH, Dee. 19. A mishap which might have been attended with very serious consequences occurred on the Keefton railway line, near Tawliai tunnel, about 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon,’ resulting in two goods waggons (Tv and L type) being derailed. The waggons were adjoining pasenger coaches, hut the latter fortunately remained on the metals. The train was travelling at a fair speed on the down grade at the time of the accident, and the derailed waggons were dragged approximately 150 yards before it was brought to a standstill.

ft is stated that the engine crow were unaware of the mishap until informed after the train he.’ Keen (Hilled up for water. Several passengers, however. were alarmed by the noise made by the waggons as they rattled over the sleepers, and had drawn the attention of the guard just before the train stopped. The two waggons wore considerably damaged and had to he left behind when the train proceeded on its journey. The permanent way was badly torn it]) by the wheels of the damaged waggons. Two hours wero occupied itt clearing the line, the train eventually arriving at Greymouth at 8.15 p.m. AGED ORGANIST’S TRAGIC END. WATHT, Dee. 17. The death of Thomas E. Midgley, musician and church organist, under tragic circumstances, occurred this morning tit his residence, Union St., uhere lie lived alone. An outbreak of lire in bis bedroom brought the Fire Brigade to the scene, and his lifeless body was stumbled upon by the firemen on the floor beneath the window, some distance away from the bed. Evidently he had groped his way to the window, and fallen a victim to the f.lines of the smoke. Deceased, who came from Bradford. England, thirty years ago. was about seventy-two years of age. For some years he was organist at St. Paul’s, Auckland, and for tho past fifteen years organist at the Presbyterian Church at Wn ill i.

GORED TO DEATH BY BULL. DUNEDIN, Dee. 17. Through being gored by a bull, on his farm at East Taicri, yesterday, Robert Callander, 57. married, received injuries to ribs and abrasions to his body, resulting in bis death in (lie hospital at noon to-dav. TAAVA FLAT DISPUTE. WELLINGTON, Deo. 18. Representatives of tlie men employ-

od on ili-o tunnelling operations at Ta"a. Flat and the contractors met in con lore nee Co-Say (Sunday), to con- 1 sidcr the deadlock that lias arisen between the two parties, and after several hours’ discussion and negotiation, an agreement was reached on all points in the dispute. The question of wages was the most contentious, and the following offer hy the contractor was accepted hy the workers’ representatives: Shovellers to receive 18s per day, shift bosses 22 8d pc rday, loco drivers 10s 4d per day, and outside workers 17s per day. The proposals agreed to will be submitted to the men at a meeting this evening. nE A BLOCK CONTI NUES. WELLINGTON, Bee. 19. Although a conference between contractors and men’s representatives arrived at an agreement in connection with the Tawa Flat tunnelling, trouble on several points agreed upon were subsequently rejected hy the rank and file of the men, who considered the wages agreed upon for shovellers, maohinomon and shift bosses were insufficient and the deadlock continues.