SOCKBURN VICTIMS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1930, Page 6

SOCKBURN VICTIMS

THREE FUNERALS

ißy Telegraph—Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, June 18.

The funeral of three of the victims of the Soc-khurn railway crossing tragedy took place to-day, the bodies of Miss Isabella D. Brand (Matron ol Templeton Mental Hospital); Ralph A. M. Smith.(driver of the motor ear), and Cl nrles W. Smith (engine driver) being Iniri'd at Bromley Cemetery. The funeral of Miss Brand was a private one, hut it was attended by Dr. I’. G. Gray (Direclor n General of Mental Hospitals), Din A. 0. Melvillop (Superintendent of Snnnysido Mental Hospital),- and members of the staffs of Sitnuvside and Templeton Mental Hospitals. The late Ralph Smith’s funeral was also attended by Dr Gray and the hospital officers. A crowd of. one thousand attended the funeral of C. W. Smith, which was conducted h.v the Salvation Army. Among those present were a large ■number of representatives of the railway service. ;LEVEL, CR GSStN'H': DA XGER, . • ;i WET)TjNOTONj. i Jnne 1,8.' , .The Farmers’ Union Cpnferenee pjiiSs.ed a rpinit urging: the Governmen ttq ; eo-qpor;.vfce -yvitli the • Highways Board to bridge the-.' .most. dangerous, of thoi.level . crossings and to .provide ;a: clear -view,, of..the, .railway line for fifty Yards.<noil j-either .; ;.side .of each crossing. : . In moving the motion ,M,r C. Jackson (Kopnaranga) said they ‘slionld 1 urge‘the Government - to speed Alp the bridging of crossings. They could not expect it to ho done at once, as it was- said it would cost two and n-hnlf millions, hut there was no reason why the work should not ' tie encoded up, especially in view of the frequent loss of life.