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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 348, 5 June 1877, Page 2

It is high time t':at effectual steps were taken to prevent the constantly-recurring chances of accidents in consequence of the stirring of cattle on our railway linr- ■. The engine despatched for last nil. ,'s missing train encountered a bullock on the line when near the Kaka Bridge. The night was about as dark as Erebus, which circumstance precluded all possibility of discerning any obstruction. The jolt consequent on running over the animal was sufficient to throw the engine off the rails ; indeed it is quite a wonder it did not do so. It would have created a little surprise amongst the railway officials here had this engine, sent to render assistance, been missing as well as the up train : and yet it is plain that such a contingency was not far from being realised. In Tasmania lately a heavy train, drawn by an engine weighing about

40 tons, was thrown off by a similar obstruction, and what might not occur to some of our lighter engines when proceeding down some of those steep declines between here and Moeraki if opposed by such obstructions ? It is quite within the range of probability that had the animal been lying across the line over the Kaka Bridge, the engine would' have been precipitated into the gulf beneath. Experience teaches us that such an occurrence is just possible, although we may congratulate ourselves upon the immunity we enjoy from serious accidents involving loss of human life. It is a serious question, and calls for the immediate attention of the Government. There can be no doubt as to the desirability of fencing in the line where cattle or horses are likely to stray on to the rails; the only drawback, of course, is that of expense, and we are of opinion that this should not stand in the way when there is even a remote probability of loss of human life.