TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 16 October 1884, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(United Press Association.)

IraitcAßGiLi,, Thursday. Mr J, T. Thompson, late SurveyorGeneral, died this morning. Deceased had.a-paralytic stroke some months ago from the effects of which he never completely recovered. Auckland, Thursday. Kobertson, tho driver of the Onelmnga train, has made the following statement re the collision :—" Left Onehunga five minutes late with a train of six carriages, travelling at the rate of fifteen miles an hour. Had about 200 passengers on board, The wind was from i favorable quarter. The smoke from the previous train which passed through the tunnel had cleared away, and he was able to see the whole length of the tunnel and thus saw the other engine approaching. But for this circumßtunce he considered no earthly power could ha.ve saved us, and neither I nor anyone else would have lived to tell the tale. When I first saw fcb.6 engine I could not.tell whether it was drawing any carriages'.or not, He exclaimed to his mate, " Are they mad in Auckland to send off a train at this time!" I blew the alarm whistle, signalled the guard, put on the brakes, reversed the machinery, and 'endeavored to stop the engine. When half through the tunnel the train was brought almost .to a standstill, not going more than a mile an hour, the run-away engine coming right into us at ten miles an hour. On seeing the speed of the run-away I said to the fireman 'we are safe,' The concussion was a good deal broken on account of the brakes being on, and the passengers consequently did .not feel the force of the collision as much as the fireman and myself, As soon as the engines met I jumped on the run-away . and shut off the steam. The pressure had then fallen to 40 lbs,"