TRAMCAR AND 'BUS COLLISION

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1905, Page 3

TRAMCAR AND 'BUS COLLISION

INQUEST CONTINUEDThe incpiest eoncenaing the death of Mrs Elizabeth Foster, killed in a collision of an Onehunga trainear "with a St. Heller's Bay omnibus of Messrs. Pullan and Armitage in Symonds-sfcreet, on February 13th, was continued yesterday afternoon and this morning. Inspector Cox, who witnessed the collision, in reply to Sergeant Hendry, said he was no judge of speed. He had himself reported a motorman for driving at 15 miles an hour, and the man was discharged. THE MOTORMAN CROSS-EXAMINED. Motorman Partridge, the driver of the car, was recalled for cross-examination by Mr Earl. In the course of his replies he said he was still convinced it was Ganley's 'bus lie saw in front of him when he reached the top of Symondsstreet. He noticed no other 'bus. Mr Earl severely questioned the witness, with the aid of the witness' estimates of distances, in an attempt to show that he must have been travelling at 20 miles an hour at the time of the collision. But the witness did not agree with counsel's conclusions. MISS ANDERSON'S EVIDENCE. To-day's proceedings were begun with evidence from Miss Anderson, one of the injured passengers of the 'bus. She stated that after the 'bus had passed East-street she noticed the driver looking back, and she looked back also. The 'bus had already begun to cross the line. As she looked back she saw that a tramear was coming. The car was then about the length of the room away from them. [Sergeant Hendry paced the distance as 15 yards-] The car was coming very quickly. She saw at once that there was going to be a collision, and she called out. Almost at the same moment the crash came. She had heard the gong of the tramcar ringing as she looked round. She could not remember if there had been a tramcar at the top of Symonds-street when the 'bus was there, or approaching them. She was still in the 'bus when the collision came to an end. but could not remember much about it, being partly dazed. The Jury Foreman: What caused you to look round? Was it hearing the gong?—No, it was only through seeing the driver looking back. MOTORMAN FURTHER EXAMINED. Richard William Partridge, the motorman, then returned to the witness chair for further cross-examination by Mr. Earl. Witness, in the course of hie replies, said vehicle drivers seemed to delight in travelling on the tram lines. He could not think why. Sometimes the rails fitted their wheels. Ganley's 'bus travelled a considerable distance on the up-line just before he crossed.

Mr. Earl: Seeing him.there, did it not occur to you that he was preparing to cross?— Witness replied that he did not dream that the 'bus was going to cross. If he had, he should certainly have stopped the car, a s he had often done on previous occasions for Ganley and others. The 'bus might have been two car lengths ahead when Ganlev first began to pull over.

After further discussion of estimates or distances, witness admitted that if he were two car lengths behind the 'bus when ,t turned to cross, and he applied his emergency brake immediately his car must have travelled about four car S a £ CT «je emergency brake wL applied. Nevertheless he was* still under the unpreasion that he pulled up in two to^hirefm^ny 9 * «« ™ According to present intentions the