TWO NARROW ESCAPES OF COLLISION.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2606, 24 August 1878, Page 3

TWO NARROW ESCAPES OF COLLISION.

On Monday last, passengers od; the main line train from Ohaupo were startled shortly after the train left Buckland's station by hearing the driver blow the alarm whistle. On looking- out of the windows to see what stray cattle were ahead, they were-sur-prised to see a stray engine on tjie line coming towards them. The tram was pulled up. . The engine also stopped, and started to return, the passenger train following it to Pukekohe. It appears that the usual Mondays special coal and cattle train, which leaves Auckland about 7 a.m. for Ohaupo, crosses the passenger train from Waikato at Buckland's station. Last Monv day the special did not run, through; an error in posting up the time for the engine to be ready. The goods train left as usual, at 7.30 with, it is said, instructions' to run' on to Bucklan's station, though it usually waits-at Pukekohe for the Waikato train. Subsequently, Mercer is telegraphed to, informing officials that the passenger train en route for Auckland need not stop at Buckland's as the special coal train was not out The passenger train accordingly left Buckland's station, and being a little late was going at a good speed. Meanwhile the goods train had arrived at Pukekohe, but instead of the whole train running along to Buckland's, the. officials appear thought- ! fully to have decided to run no risk but send on an empty engine to -Buckland's to bring on the passenger train, which they understood would wait there, but which, as stated, was already steaming along the line under fresh instructions, and but for the smartness of tho men on the engines, and the fact of.their meeting in an open part of the line there would have been a fearful catastrophe. Had the entire goods train run out of Pukekohe, the meeting would probably have taken place a minute or two later, and in the cutting, \vher<-> a serious collision would have been inevitable. As> it was. the empty engine was smartly stopped by its vigilant driver. It is reported hat the goods train had actually left'Pukekohe, but seeing the engine return, ran back, but this we think an error. It is, however, difficult to get at facts, as the men on the line will not communicate anything they know, and passengers and eyewitnesses of a reliable character are not easily ;to be found.

NO. 2 ESCAPE,

The second traffic performance on Monday was a special with 60 tons, leaving Auckland en route for "Waikato with orders to cross the Onehunga passenger train, at Penrose as it had done several.times before. The Onehunga . train, however, .is said to ' have had orders to , cross at Remuera. The 60 ton train was seen running past Kemuera, when it stopped and went back, then started off again; That delay prevented the collision, for before running down the bank the Onehunga train was seen coming up, the-special went back again to Remuera and allowed the other train to pass. "Wo have repeatedly called attention to the necesssity for clear and unmistakeable instructions being given when any change is made in the running of" trains, or when a special train is upon the line. In spite of these admonitions there is little or no visible improvement, and it becomes our duty to the public to openly condemn either the system or the administration which permits such a state of things. The steady increase in the numoer of trains running increases the danger, and demands the exercise of greater care and viligance. The question of a fair tariff of charges,is important, but is most insignificant when compared with the tariff of human existence. In both the cases quoted above the causeis said to have been either contradictory' or insufficient instructions. We protesF<Bpainst }he continuance of this sort or thing. Was not the Taupiri" lesson dearly/ enough bought ? with its smashed up carriages^ and the partial destruction of two locomotives, one of which is yet lying lilce so much lum ber in the engine-shed instead of being usefully employed during the past nine mPnths. The collision, it is said, was caused by verbal instruction given, contradictory to written ones posted up. Surely this should have been solemn enough warning to whoever despatches the trains. There have"; notwithstanding, been so many instances of bad arrangements since that incident of trains waiting at crossings for others that never came, or dashing on to meet trains that were never expected—that we ask, who is to blame ? On Monday, there were two meetings of trains. Where they caused by blundering instructions or stupid neglect of orders'? If the blame rest at head-quarters, then let head-quarters be made amenable. If the blame rest with the officials, there is no reason to doubt, but they will get punished readily enough. After Mr Buckland's last sheep fair, when the flheep train and a passenger train had a similar meeting, a station master was discharged, and a guard and engine driver suspended for 6 months, because they had neglected orders. '. We hear of many instances when the intelligence and thbugatfulness -of men have, in spite' oifvwrong instructions prevented serious but we have not heard of suo.h jcbnduct' mejating^with >any recompense. The question is most serious. Neither officers'on trains/, nor passengers should be placed in danger.of their lives, through bad or'careless instructions, any more- than from careless officials. ... ,