THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT TAUPIRI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2476, 24 May 1888, Page 2

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT TAUPIRI.

TO THH UIMTOK. Sf it, —ln Tuesday's issue there appeared what purported to be an account of the train accident on Saturday night. But with the single exception of the fact that there was an accident there was not a paragraph in that report that was not a gross falsehood ; and had it not been for the foul, slander upon the young gentleman in charge of the telegraph office, who has been here but a few days aVid is a total stranger amongst us, I would not have troubled you with my remarks. But when you, Mr Editor, shall have read them side by side with that pretended report, you will I feel sure, see further light 011 the matter ; and I trust and believe you will lose no time in rendering all the reparation you can to the young telegraphist at Xgarnawajiia for having unwittingly allowed your respectable journal to be the means of disseminating such cruel defamation of him as has been dono by your reporter. My authorities for the facts as I shall present them to you are unquestionable and their truthfulness may, and if , required shall he easily verified. Now, I know Mr Venn as well as I know your correspondent, and I know no man better qualified to superintend the readjustment of the erring engine than Mr l'enn had he been there, but he was not there. Almost immediately after the train lett the roils, there was a large gang of men at work right through the night and Sunday morning. The engine was replaced in proper position by.,7- o'clock while Mr l'enn did not pass through Ngaruawahia until 8, and the trolley with jacks half an hour later. As soon as thoy did arrive andweru put 011 the track to ba conveyed to whence they came,' the train started , and was.. at Ngaruawaliia by 0.-10. The station master and telegraphist never left their offices from the time the train should have arrived on Saturday evening, until it .actually did arrive on Sunday morning, lest their-serVices might be required in their .respective departments. Mr Laivrence Cussen, along with Major Wilson immediately on their arrival at Ngaruawahia-, procured a conveyance and went away at once, and Mr (Jusson did not even see the telegraphist,' nor the telegraphist him, nor was lie seen by any ether person near the station, lie certafnly did not present a telegram for transmission, nor remonstrated with anyone because it was refused. Mr Sandcs and Mr Missen were at the station frequently up to about 2 o'clock in the morning, making enquiries after the ex. peetcd train, but neither- the one nor the other of these two offered to send any telegram, but some .one , was heard outside boisterously asserting that he would not mind paying double the cost of an urgent telegram if it could be got away, but as no one oU'ercd him the loan of the money, he never presented the telegram.—Yours truly, BAI.Iast.MAN.