Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, JULY 14, 1884. FENCING RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 194, 14 July 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, JULY 14, 1884. FENCING RAILWAYS.

past. Had she clone what nine cows out of ten would do, she would have been run down, and the train thrown oft' the rails at the approach to a bridge which spans the gully at a height of about 90 feet. Whether the I whole train would have been precipitated over the side or whether it wouldn't, is of course impossible to say, but it is very clear that a single beast can do inconceivable damage by lSeing on a railway line ; and further that while beasts are allowed to go on the lines a constant danger is incurred by passengers, who pay their tares and are entitled to safe provisions being made so far as it is possible to make them. It is to be presumed that the reason the Government has not caused all lines to be fenced, has been on account of the expense of such a work, but we think the saving that would accrue from a well-fenced line, would be considerable, even if they did not amount to the full cost of fencing. First, the Government would be relieved of the perpetual responsibility which they are undir so long as they allow the lines to remain open for stock to stray upon, and of the risk of having to pay compensation in case of an accident happening at any time; and then the ballasting would" keep in place for a much longer time, ana consequently less time would need to be spent on it by the gangs of surface-men. Some members on the Napier side brought the matter up some years ago, and the Minister for Public Works at that time, promised, we believe, to put a sufficient sum on the estimates for the purpose. One of our Hawke's Bay contemporaries recently made some comments that pointed out a curious coincidence that seemed to exist in the fact that the railway line was actually fenced just where it passed through a large run that was the property of other members of the same family to which the Minister for Public Works belonged. But the coincidence was satisfactorily explained so as to attajcji no blame or imputation to any one, and so the matter dropped. We would not grudge the fencing off of that particular rnri. It is one step in the right direction — never mind how much interest any one may have had for getting it done. The greatest fault lay in not continuing the work throughout all the railways in New Zealand. It is an absolute necessity that those who use the railways should be protected from risk of accident to as great an extent as possible. There arc dangers enough in connection with steam locomotion, without adding to them by the lack of the ordinary precautions of fencing in the lines. What with collisions, explosions* breaks down, leaving the rails and other casualties that are of constant occurrence, we may surely take steps towards the abolishment of unnecessary and preventable dangers to which our travelling public may be exposed.

We are glad to see that both the candidates for the Manawatu seat are strongly in favour of having all lines of railway fenced at the exSense of the Government without elay. Probably hardly a week passes without some very narrow escape from accidents occurring, which might cause the death or serious disablement of many passengers. That is to say, that at least once in seven days, passengers by our railways run the risk of losing their lives. This is hardly a pleasant thought with which to enter a train, but it is unfortunately not far short of the truth. It is no difficult matter for a bullock to upset a train, even with a cow-catcher attached to the engine. Many years ago when the line was opened from Melbourne to Geelong, there was a great inauguration of the auspicious event, and a special pioneer passenger train started away with all the glory attaching to the first train of the line, and nsth'ing but pleasure and joviality on board — when bump ! smash ! they had run over a harmless but unfortunate cow, the train left the rails, and dismay and confusion reigned supreme. When I the reports were made, as to the ! amount of damage entailed, they stated that no harm was done with the exception of an old woman breaking her leg 1 Was that all ? Perhaps the poor old lady thought it quite enough for one day's outing! But the results might have been much more serious. An instance occurred on the Hawke's Bay line Suite recently, which was put. before le Napier Chamber of Commerce by one of its members who happened to be in the train at the time. M A cow was standing in the middle of the, line, where there was a sharp curve, and the train came unexpectedly upon her. There were Jjtigh banks on each side, and had tfye .cow-catcher thrown the beast off the line ijj $e fjrgt instance, it must have got under tfye back wheels of the engine or tram, eyen if it escaped those in front. Worse than this, the cutting was an approach to one of the very high viaducts that span the deep gullies of the Manawatu River in the 70-Mile Bush. As it happened the cow moved quietly to the side of the cutting, and the train went whizzing