MATAMATA FATALITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 247, 18 October 1928, Page 8

MATAMATA FATALITIES.

CORONER'S ADVERSE COMMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

MAT AM ATA, Wednesday.

An echo of the recent level crossing accident in the town of Matamata, in which a Maori woman, Toi Rawhiri, and her baby were killed, was heard at Matamata to-day, at the adjourned inquest held before Mr. J. W. EUrrBrown, coroner.

The accident occurred on a Saturday when a special train, conveying the employees of Tattersfield, Limited;. Grey Lvnn, ran into a motor car driven by Mr. A. Randrup, a farmer, of Hinuera. There were several Maori passengers, the two mentioned being killed and the others, with the driver, being badly injured.

The foeman. of the special, E. R. Hjort)i,of Auckland, said he estimated of jthe." train when it was approaching the. crossirig was 40 to 45 mjlas h° u C- The driver pulled .the train; up-in its own, length,- The engine eaiight , the car . broadside on. The whistje-had, been sochded at the crossings .each side of the station. The <p.r seeit'ed' to be travelling fairly fasti "Tt had all wind-s creeps • on. Being, a private train rid publication had been given of its runriing,. so. that, except for the '.whistle, no, notification was possible for ear drivers. e ■

The - driver of the car ...said he knew all,regular trains had gone and did not see or. hear the' special. He drove straight on to .the; crossirig at a speed of 10 to 15 miles an hour.

The coroner, in commenting upon the speed of the train over a 'crossing that was freely used, said he thought that as the .time of the train was unusual the precautions of the driver should be unusual.

Sir. Corder, representing the Railway Department, said there would be too much delay if trains slowed down at all similar crossings. (He admitted that the crossings each side of the Minamata station were the closest on the line. .... «•

The" coroner's verdict was that the woman and her child met their death by accident, and that the driver of the car did not take sufficient care to avoid a collision. .