THE FEATHERSTON RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2339, 15 September 1880, Page 2

THE FEATHERSTON RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

The inquest on the bodies of those killed by the late raihiuiy accident was concluded at Fcatherston yesterday. The most important feature in the evidence was the amended statement of Quinn, a publican, who was examined on the day before and stated that he had been informed by a passenger named Montgomery that brandy was handed round among the railway officers, and that they were the worse for liquor. This Montgomery emphatically denied, and tjuimi, being recalled said—l have been under a mistake about the brandy. It has been explained to me that the brandy was given l)y myself. I had it in my bag with me in the train. 1 do not know to whom I gave it. 1 have no reason to suppose the driver or stoker had brandy with them.

The remainder of the evidence showed conclusively that the ollieers in charge of the train were perfectly sober, ami that the accident was due to neither incompetence nor carelessness on the part of those employed.

George Ashcroft, district railway manager, gave some important evidence. Ho said he hail had 20 years experience on railways in France, Belgium, and Egypt on railways with inclines. He was on one over Mount Gem’s, but it was a, much lighter constructed one. No precaution was taken against the wind there, and 1 never heard of a railway where it is necessary to take special precautions against wind. No doubt two engines would add to the safely of trains and wind sheds, if strong enough would be a protection. It was desirable to have more brake power. He considered the portion of the line between the summit and Upper Unit a most dangerous part. The system of pushing carriages up inclines is the safest.

After an hour’s deliberation the jury returned the following verdict :—“That after ufull consideration of the evidence brought before them, the deaths of Ada Pnarazyn and Francis John Nicholas wenr purely accidental, and caused by the carriage being blown off the line down the embankment on the Rimutaki incline ; and in the opinion of the jury no blame attaches to anvone.”

Thu jury added the following riders : —(1) “ That in the opinion of the jury the Government should take immediate action by the construction of wind sheds or other preventive means to prevent, as far as possible, the recurrence of a similar accident on the dangerous parts of the incline, and that direct telegraphic communication bo at once established between the summit and Katoki.” (2) That the gravest, censure be passed on the witness Onhm for the statement he made, without any corroborative evidence, that, the driver and stoker were in possession of a. bottle of brandy before the accident, and that they wore new hands, and that the carriages were not properly coupled, especially as the evidence shows that the driver and the stoker were perfectly sober, and instead of being new hands they had been engaged working these engines on the incline for the last IS months ; and that ou the occurrence of the accident the railway authorities and their employees rendered every possible assistance in their power, and (ho jury are of opinion (hat from the evidence adduced, that the management of the line is most elllcicnt.”