BANKSIDE RAILWAY COLLISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 14 May 1907, Page 2

BANKSIDE RAILWAY COLLISION.

Till? INQUIRY. Ter Pre»g Association. Cliristelinrcli, May 13. At tho Diinlisidi' ["ir.v. .Mr. Whilinmli.', tlit- first witmv:

lelaih-d tin. methods undi'i- «-lii..-li special I rains nin. Al'li'r llic accident witness interviewed the guard and asked why litbad overrun tlit- crossing place. 'The #>ard (Seaman) replied that he did not vsnt to -el anyone into trouble, hut tin- stntioniimster at (.'liristeliurch, when cheeking [\ lß advices, never jiointed "«•■ that he had a crossing to make til I'inkside. The witness asked the guard ». t-ns was „„t h!i,.v,u in the I rain atlii',;!',i' fi"' 1 "','' f: "'"' , ' ''''l' l ' o ' l ' "' (li(l ,klt Imik the volunteer train alfected mine. ,'"",,', }". mul "'J' instruetions through. _ -Witness added that he had not received communications ,',,„„ ti „, Amalgamated Society of l'„,ilwav s.-r----winis. and would u „l li ;IV( , ~,. if he had. lie knew th.-v made serinus eoiiiphiints about the nature of special train advices. The society's recommendations were such as would .piite pieveni the running of special trains in cnicr-

('liristeliurch. May 13.

■Mm William Piper, siatiunuiaster at ('liristeliurch. slated that special advice ■is to the train for the South was placed I in Guard Seaman's pigeon hole, and a copy pliieed ill the guard's room two I days liel'ore the collision. Before the | train started witness checked the advice of hoth guard and driver in their presence. A copy of the circular was placed in the train notice book, but had been stolen since the date of the accident. Another circular, T450, the faster circular, had also been stolen. ■fas. Meikle, engine-driver, said he could not say he noticed the circular, T450 on the notice board. He scanned the notice board hastily. 'Drivers freijuently had to sign that they had road and understood long circulars that it was practically impossible for thorn to understand thoroughly without very long perusal. Until he passed Bank-side lie had no idea that the volunteer train was on the line. Seaman, guard of the train that collided with the volunteer train, said lie did not know of anyjiotieo Ifoard. He took advice circulars from a box. He got a copy of circular T4iio from the foreman's ollice when lie left Christchnrch with the train. He had no knowledge that lie had to cross the train at Hankside. 'The enquiry was adjourned till tomorrow.