THE RAKAIA RAILWAY DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1899, Page 7

THE RAKAIA RAILWAY DISASTER.

• CHEISTCHUKCH, llWch 20. The inquest on the victim^ of the Kakaia railway accident yv^& concluded this morning. \ V On C. H. Carter, the driver of the second excursion train, being cabled ■ to give evidence, Mr F. J. Jbynt stated that he appeared for Garte^, and said, though no . charge was pre-> ferred a-gainst him, nevertheless, the ' tendency of the. evidence seemed to be in the' direction overdriving, Hnd counsel had every reason to belifeve that proceedings of a criminal nature would be taken against his clieb.t. Under these circumstances he l^ad advised Carter his own interests not to give evidence. '.

Mr Stringer pointed out that this privilege could not be exercised by counsel, but he agreed it was impossible to conceal-the fact that the evidence tended to incriminate Carter.

C. H. Carter deposed that he was a first-grade engine driver.

• The Coroner then warned him that he need not give evidence which might incriminate him. Witness claimed, to be relieved from giving evidence, and the Coroner allowed his claim.

Other evidence having been heardj

The jury retired for an hour and a half, and brought in the following verdict: —'That the deceased, Mary Ann Franks, Rose Harwood,. Fanny Jones, " and Richard Bowden, met their death by accident in a collision • at Rakaia railway station on Marchii, and that such collision was caused by the negligence of Charles Henry Carter, the driver of the second ex-"* cursion train, in maintaining too h-'gh a rate of speed, and thereby not having sufficient and proper control over his train in approaching the Rakaia station. The jury desire to represent the lack of proper and nedes- , sary signalling appliances at such an important station as Rakaia, whereas on the, night in question five passen-,..,. ger trains met, and the only method of signalling was by despatching a messenger up the line with a hand lamp; (2) the absence of continuous brakes on the passenger trains of the New Zealand railways; (S) the. want , cf sufficient capable guards on excursion trains. The jury consider tLafc the train which caused the collision should liuve had at least two . experienced guards, whereas it was ih charge of an inexperienced actingguard, the efficient one having been accidently left behind at" Ashburton; . (4) the want of judgment on the part oi the A shburton stationmaster in not causing the second excursion train to be stopped at Chertsey, in order that the driver might be informed of the absence of th» head guard; (5) the jury desire to comliiend the prompt action of the officials of the first excursion train in moving it forward, and thereby avoiding a much more serious calamity, and that the rider of the jury^be for- ': warded to the Minister for Railways.*

T.he Coroner said that the verdict was equivalent to one of manslaughter against Driver Carter. He entirely agreed with the verdict.