NAPIER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2621, 2 June 1877, Page 2

NAPIER.

Friday.

Soon after the up-train from Waipukurau to Napier had left Kaikora station, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, some cattle, straying on the line, compelled the engine to be stopped. Just as the cattle were clear of the line and speed had been again put on, a beast deliberately stepped in front of the engine, and was at once knocked down, but instead of being thrown off the line it got under the wheels. The result of this was that the engine was knocked off the rails and slewed across the line, and three out of the fourteen leading trucks were also thrown off. Fortunately these trucks were between the engine and passenger carriages, or the consequences might hare been fatal. There being no telegraph station at Kaikora, the news of the accident had to be forwarded to Napier by way of Waipawa. When the intelligence reached town at about five o'clock, Mr Miller, the General Manager, proceeded at once to the spot with a special engine and lifting appliances. On going up, the engine ran over three horses, all of which were killed, but the line was not cleared until 3 a.m. The up-train yesterday-, due at Napier at 10 22 o'clock, did not reach town till nearly 1 p.m. The delay was caused by the engine being brought to a sudden standstill by running into a bullock. The jerk threw some of the trucks off between the engine and"' the passenger carriages. The passengers had two hours' work to put the train to rights. The Telegraph again points out the manifest duty of the Government to get the line fenced ere accident to human life occurs.

(FEOM OUB OWJT COEEESPOKDENTB.)