Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 30, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 117, 30 May 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 30, 1881.

An accident happened to the evening train from Foxhill on Saturday which was attended with considerate inconvenience, but fortunately nothing worse, to tbe passengers. About half a mile on this side of tbe Richroopcj ojsti?9, -nw the feigij vfimvl® on

H£r Mcßae's property, a cow, apparently frightened by the approaching train, attempted to cross the rails just in front of it, but before it could get out of the way the engine was on ifc and the poor brute was killed instantaneously, being almost cut in two. The sudden shock threw the engine off the rails, and Mr Allan the engineer on to the ground with s'jch forco as to stun him, but fortunately nouti of the passengers sustained any injury whatever. It was found impossible to got the engine, which bad run off inro a small surface drain close by, on to the rails again and ihe passengers returned to Richmond whence they telegraphed to town for cubs aud walked on uutil they met tbj'tn. T..e cow, a valuable animal just out hi* point of calving, Whs the property of Mr K. Afcltae, aad, it appears, bad been oiabled to get on tho railway line by 6ho carelessness of some one, who on going from his homestead towards the beach had left the ptstc open. The result of the accident will, we trust, be to induce the Govern ment to eircl turn tables at the town and country te-mini, so that the engine may always travel 'with the cow catcher in front. U has lo.)g been regarded as an nbsurdiiy Hint this vc-iy necessary precaution agaiust dinper sboul.l be in a place ;wbere it is abaoi'Ueiy useless en engines which are returning to towii, but it is now shown to be something more serious than a mere absurdity, and it will be culpable negleSfc-on the part of the authorities should they allow the existing state of things to continue. There is Something so ridiculous in rettognisiog the necessity of providing h cow catcher on trains going to the country and in neglocting to supply i hem on the return to town that wB cannot but wonder that turn tables have not been provided before. After the experience of Saturday night, however, it is scarcely likely that any further time will be lost in remedying the present anomalous and dangerous slate of toings. The 'first meeting of Mr Lsvestam's Committee was held in King*s Assembly Room oh Saturday, when about fifty were present. \lr W! IlarW-y was appointed chairman. Mr Lsvesfcam will address tho electors at the Provincial Hall to-night. A serious accident occurred at Bright••vater on Saturday to Mr H. Harris, son of Mr Harris of Tasman-street, who was standing with his hand on the muzzle of a gun, t io stock i £ which was resting on. a stone from which it slipped, the concussion causing tiie hammer to fall and so discharging tbe aim, the charge of which passed through the young man's hand from the palm, smashing tbe bouc3 connected with the second aud third fingers, lacerating the flesh, and pro during a very u»ly wound on the back of the haud at the point of exit. The unfortunate suffoior was brought down to the Hospital, and we are glad to hear that there is a chance of tbe hand being saved, Dr Boor being hopeful of avoidiug the necessity for amputation. The Simonseu Opera Company will arrive from Wellington by to-morrow morning's steamer and will givd their first performance in the evening The time for the sale of season tickets bas beeu extended to to-mor-row evening at. six o'clock.