FATALITY ON THE RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 12, 14 January 1905, Page 5

FATALITY ON THE RAILWAY.

The inquest into the circumstances attending the death of A. Reed, who was killed by a collision between a special trftin and the jigger upon which he was riding, near Kiwitahi, was held yesterday at Morrinsville. T- Kyte, who was on" the jigger with Keid, and escaped serious injury in the course of his evidence said that he was sitting on the back facing the engine. When he first saw the engine it was 40 yards distant. He did not move. He had no time. They were going eight or nine miles an hour. He heard no whistle or sound. He knew that nilo 134 (as explained to The jury by Mr Kdgar. inspector of permanent way) said men shoald j»o ahead of the jigsrer. It was not customary to do so. He had been 23 years in the service, and ho had never seen a jigger protected as laid down in the rules. If they had complied with the rules they would have been late, and been reprimanded. It would take about half an hour to flag the dangerous places. Engine-d river K. Warren deposed that the train was running about IS miles an hour. ITe did not see the jigger till within "20 yards. TTe could not have seen it earlier. H> immediately applied the emergency brake, and brought the train irp in 70ft. The jury, in returning a \erdiit of accidental death, added a rider as follows: —(1) "That the railway system is faulty, inasmuch that it does not require th-at the platelayers shall be warned of special trains." (2) "That telephone communication should be established lit platelayer's" houses at out stations." l3i "That they are of opinion that (railway rules) is not applicable in men on jiggers, and further that the rules applying to flagging are entirely urrworkaWo. " (4} '"The jury rciogni.-r the prompt attention of the enirinc-driver in bringing his train to a standstill."