FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1419, 6 August 1881, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.

A fatal accident happened to a native named To Oti, who Maa travelling with the king fend party by special train from Mercer to Ngaruawahia on Thursday. The train passing Taupiri was going at the rate of About seven miles an hour, and when way past the station Te Oti, who h^l^Hnfc his horse there and was anxious to tajkt it on, sprangoffthe carriage against the advice of those with him who even tried to hold him back. On landing he lost his balance, and fell back under the wheels, six or seven carriages passing over his body, cutting it literally into pieces. The train was stopped and the passengers immediately rushed back to where the remains were lying, but none of the natives would touch them. Fortunately Sergeant McGovern was in the train, and with the assistance of Mr Brown, of Taupiri, placed the remains of the deceased native in a wooden box, and brought them on to Ngaruawahia by the ordinary passenger train, which followed shortly afterwards. Dr. Beale, the District Coroner, was in this latter train, and on being referred to, decided that an inquest was unnecessary. On the nature of the accident being explained to Tawhiao. he expressed the opinion that .as the deceased had broken the rules of the railway, he alone was to blame, and this seemed to settle matters, and the natives, without exception, returned to the train, leaving Sergeant McGovern, as we have said, to bring on the unfortunate man's remains.