THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 411, 18 March 1899, Page 2

THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

THE INQUEST. (BT TELEGEAPn,—PEEfS ASSOCIATION). Curistchurch, Last Night. The inquest into tho railway accident was resumed today. After evidence as to the identification of the bodies, Mr Fisher, Sceretary of the Picnic Committee, said the second train was travelling too fast for his liking, and he pointed this out to the guard and impressed strongly upon him the necessity for care.

Mr Fitzpatrick, a butcher employed at the freezing works, said at the request of the guard he put on the brake, but the guard himself had not applied the brake while witness was in the van. It was not till passing Chertsey that he put on the brake. He continued to hold the brake until the collision occurred. There seemed no appreciable difference in the spied of the train after the brakes were applied. The evidence tends to show in the direction that the guard left behind at Ashburtcn was sober, but missed the train through being obstructed by intoxicated people attempting to board the train. The evidence also proves that there was a good deal of drunkenes3 on the platform at the Ashburton station, and consequently much disorder. The driver was allowed 46 minutes to cover the distance between Asburton and Ttakaia, and was expected to pick up as much time as possible of the twenty minutes lost, otherwise the Christchurch train would be kept waiting. An attempt was made when the first train arrived at ttakaia to telegraph to Chertsey, but without avail ; otherwise the second train could have been stopped thore.