BANKSIDE RAILWAY COLLISION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8442, 15 May 1907, Page 5

BANKSIDE RAILWAY COLLISION.

By Telegraph—Press Association.' CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. At the railway enquiry Meikle, the engine-driver, said that he had diffi- ! culty in getting at' his engine to oil it. He went to the notice board and found, nothing affecting his train. Subsequently Fireman Barker brought a circular to him while he was oiling , the engine. Barker said he did not think it affected witnesses' train. When he met Guard Seaman the i latter went to the stationmaster, who came with a pocket-book and read out a number of the circulars,, When he saw the lights of the approaching train >at Bankside he .put on the brakes thinking the train would stop before the collision. The brakes worked well. At the conclusion Mr Bishop, S.M., i said that his duty, was simply to enquire into the cause of the accident, and not to report on the railway administration. He had considerable personal sympathy with the driver, Meikle, but they could not get away from certain salient points in connection with the case. If he had to report as counsel admitted he must report that the collision was due to fteglect, great or small, on the part of the driver and guard. The question of dealing with these officers a3 a result of that neglect must rest in the hands of the Minister. If officers took circulars and did not read them they must admit they had done wrong. The only question was to what extent that wrong went. The enquiry would no doubt result in good to the* general public, and probably also to railway servants generally, so that Meikle would probably have to suffer for what would benefit others in future. There were regulations, and they had not been carried out. The commission's report would be sent on to the Minister.

CABLE NEWS.

United Pres,* Electric Telegraph Copyright