THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY DISASTER-

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 136099, 25 April 1908, Page 9

THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY DISASTER-

OP ENGINEER OP QjjQOKD ENGINE.

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MELBOURNE, April 24. of tie ecus from tekscopmg. Tho «»P«rt of t*e engineer of ti» second engine has leaked out. He declares iih*t the eigoals were against them. He next observed tihet the tram was sot being pulled up «* the ueual spot, and he then &pplii*i to teataea, bat they failed to aot. _• The Chief .Commissioner of Railways denies *hat tbore was any delay in getting the relief train away. He says the ambulance train was dcs]>a4ohed 35 minutes after the news of the accident was received. Everything wae in readiness, bat tie services of doctors had to be secured.

Tho Kari of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has. cabled expressing his sorrow at tho catastrophe.

Milburn, tihe driver of tho BendigO train had been on duty for ll.liouire 35 minuses at the time of tihe accident, wlhilst tiie driver aoid fireman of tie second engine hed commenced work at 4.45 in tho morning, and were oa duty fox 18 ihoure.

Mr T. Ronayne, General Manager of New Zealand Railways, sent a cable message on Wednesday to Mr Tait, Chief" Railway CoinmkeioDor for Victoria, expressing the regret of hie department for the accident. Mr Ronayne pointed out to a "Dominion" representative that the circumstances of the Victorian collision were almost identical with those of tho Rakaia accident, by which, however, only a few lives were lost. That accident, by the way, cost the New Zealand Government about £40,000 after settling claims for compensation. Rakaia did not possess, however, the signalling apparatus of the Victorian station. A man went out to give the signal by displaying a red lamp, which the enginedriver of the colliding train stated that he did not see. The Victorian tram ran into the rear of another train leaving the station, as happened air Rakaia. Three tail lamps are always attached to the rear van of a train to guard against such accidents. Mr Ronayno states that the signalling apparatus, braKos, and rolling etocke on the Victorian lines are all the best and most up-to-date. Mr Tait, the Chief Commissioner, is an extremely capable official, who has had a great experience cf railway management. Mx Hudson, another of ti»o Victorian Railway was formerly assistant' general manager of 'the New Zealand Railway Department.

Messrs Wi Pere, MX.C, and Hapi Kiniha, representing t2*e Takitim« Maori CouTtcil, eoni the following cablegram to £bo Premier of Victoria: — '■Tihe Takrtimn Maori Cbuncfl have heard of' the great calamity to tibo (people an your State. . We axe deeply grieved, and our ibeaarte bleed, as the disaster fell in "the light of day. "Wliat is to be will be." Tfoe reference to tie "light of day" means tlhat the Maoris regard the calamity as one that should have been averted-