TEMPORARY SERVICE A FAILURE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11580, 11 May 1903, Page 8

TEMPORARY SERVICE A FAILURE.

INSUFFICIENCY OF DRIVERS. EXTRAORDINARY SCENES IN THE CITY. TWO ACCIDENTS REPORTED. RUMOURS OF A TRAMWAY STRIKE. (Received May 9th, 6.6 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 9. Early to-day it was found impossible to carry out even the partial dime-table arranged yesterday, owing to there not being enough drivers and firemen, a number ot those who were expected having failed to turn up. A large crowd gathered at Spencer street and other Btationo to watch the defcpatch of the trains, including many of the strikers, who used efforts to induce those who had taken their places to join them. Beyond this and a little hooting, the pro-

ceedings were quiet and orderly. It wa» close on eight o'clock before the first suburban train got away, and very few' had been despatched up to noon. Tha country sen-ice was cancelled, and the sale of tickets was stopped early in the niorning. The usual mail train to Sydney was amongst those stopped. (Received May 9th, 7.48 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 9. The scene in the city this morning was extraordinary. The travelling public early realised that the temporary service was a failure, and oushed the trams and 'buses, which put forth all their available resources, while all descriptions of vehicles were eagerly pressed into service. Bicyclists turned out in great force, but many thousands had perforce to be content with walking. From Princess street station only tha service to Cumberwell was attempted, and even that proved too great a strain. Three trains were sent out early in the morning. The first went through all right; but th« second had not moved ten yards When it broke down. Only one had returned up to ten o'clock. A similar state of affairs prevailed at Flinders street Btation. Altogether, up to ten o'clock only six suburban trains had been despatched. Just as one train was startiug an accident happened to the gauge, and the volunteer driver and fireman jumped off. Luckily nothing serious resulted, but they were re? lieved of further duty. The Westinghouse brakes are not beiug used, and the majority of the trains are considered unsafe. Tlie volunteer* driver of one of the early train- was just ready, to start from Spencer street, and the guarfi blew his whistle, when the driver took up his coat and stepped off the footboardi Two accidents have been reported bb far. A train which was being taken out bjr a retired driver at Port Melbourne ran tf I the line, owing, it is alleged, to the signal I not operating properly. The traffic wa I blocked all the morning in consequence The second accident was of a more aerio_i nature. A goods train from Benalla to Melbourne was derailed at Avenel. Several trucks and the engine are lying across the track, and great damage has been done to the rolling stock and permanent way. Owing to strike conditions it. has beefound impossible to clear the line. Crowds! of strikeris end sympathisers gathered at the stations. It is reported that the engineers] in the tramway power houses have decided ti join the strike. >