Bankside Railway Accident.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43092, 14 May 1907, Page 2

Bankside Railway Accident.

OFFICIAL ENQUIRY,

(By Telegraph-—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

At the Bankside railway collision enquiry, Mr Piper, stationmaster, Christchurch, said he checked and advised both the guard and driver before the train was despatched. A copy of the circular was placed in the train notice book, but bad been stolen since the date of the accident. Another circular bad also been stolen. James Meikle engine driver, said be came on duty on the night of the 28th between 9.30 and 9.45. He could not say be noticed the circular T 450 on the notice board. He scanned tlie notice board hastily and got the copy of nine circulars that concerned him. Drivers frequently had to sign that they bad read and understood long circulars that it was practically impossible for them to understand thoroughly without very long perusual. Until be had passed Bankside be bad no idea that a volunteer train was on the line.

At this stage, owing to becoming indisposed and suffering from a nervous attack, as the result of the accident, this witness had to retire from the room.

Henry Charles Seaman, guard on the train that collided with the special volunteer train said : “ I did not know of any notice board. There are a lot of pigeon holes in which papers are placed for the guards, and I took the advice circulars from box. It was from some of the guards who were my friends that I learned what I had to do in regard to the running of my train. I got all circulars except T 450.” When lie left Christchurch with the train he had no knowledge that he had to cross train at Bankside.

The enquiry w r as adjourned till to-day.