AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2313, 16 March 1914, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

4Y ELECTBIC TELEGKAPH- COPYBIGHT. PER PRESB ABSOOIATION. THE RAILWAY DISASTER. Sydney, March 15. Tlie Acting-Chief Commissioner of Railways, referring to yesterday's disaster, states that the signals, brakes, and everything else were in proper working order.

The drivers and firemen of both engines escaped with slight injuries .

The driver (Irwin) who had charge of the Temora mail, states that the distant signal showed a green light, showing the home signal up, but, owing to the thick mist, he was unable to see. He reduced speed as soon as he caught sight of the home signal at danger. The fireman shouted: "Hold her, for God's sake! . He apjjlied the brakes, too late to avoid a collision.

Latest advices give a corrected list of the killed, as follows: Mr Heaver, sem\, Arthur Heaver, Miss Alice Heaver, Mail Guard Bray, Mr J. C. Minnis, Mrs Minnis, Mr G. L. Pollard, Mrs Clarke, Mr Fred Kurzenhagen, Misses Eglington and Sherry, and Mrs L. A. Parker. Other bodies are those of a youth (supjDosed to be named Walker) and a woman, believed to be Mrs Kurzenhagen.

Nineteen injured in hospital are progressing favourably.

The disaster was the most terrible in the history of New South Wales railways.

Reports state that at the moment of impact, the goods train was being shunted to a siding clear of the main line to allow the Temora mail train to pass. A dense fog obscured the signals and the mail train crashed into the goods train, telescoping two carriages. Neither engine left the rails. The saddest feature of the disaster is that .the Heaver family were travelling to Cootainundra to bury Mrs Heaver, senr., whose body was on the train. The widower, his daughter and daughter-in-law were killed and his son seriously injured. . Bray, the guard in the mail van, who"was about to throw out a mail bag, was killed, while his mate, who was in the same van, escaped.

Another sad case was that where a father, mother and three young children were buried under the debris. The eldest appealed piteously to the mother for help, and she. replied: "Love, I cannot help you!" The children were ultimately rescued alive, but the parents were dead.

Received, March 16, 10.40 a.m Sydney, March 16.

Several extraordinary escapes characterised the railway disaster. One man and his wife escaped with a slight shock while Minnis and his wife sitting on the opposite seat were killed. Another passenger sitting still had two dead bodies thrust upon him. Several children in the fatal carriages who were thrown into corners on the racks, were lifted out little the worse for their ..startling experiences. So completely were the four compartments wrecked that it is marvellous that any escaped. SOME OTHER NEWS.' . Complaining .of the food, the firemen of the Mokoia gave notice. They were paid off and a new crew obtained and the vessel sailed for Hobart oh Saturday night. Mr Ustis flatly contradicts the statement cabled from Auckland on Tuesday that the Chicago Meat Company was extending its operations to Australia. He denied having any connection with the company.

Newcastle, March 16. • Sailed—Waitemate, for Lyttelton.

Obituary.—John Kueshaw, at the age of 53 years. He was late traffic tramway superintendent, was educated at the Christchurch High School and represented the Railway Department at the Dunedin Exhibition, in 1887.

Federal Premier Cook, speaking at Sandringham, said he considered State Premier Holman's figures concerning the light taxation in New South Wales a piece of sheei political effrontery. He said there never was a more hollow mockery than to assert that three years of labour rule had given us industrial peace. Labour rule has signalised a fratricidal policy of striking, and the creation of class hatred, which is increasing in this State to-day. This feeling has done and will reduce the effectiveness of the working man's wages. Melbourne, March 16.

The agents of the Norddeutscher Lloyd state the service will continue until May 12, 1915, whether the subsidy is renewed or not. The last vessel on the present propramme leaves Sydney on that date.

Three cases of smallpox were reported in the Newcastle district.

Mr Braham, a London journalist, succeeds Dr Ward as editor of the Sydney Daily Telegraph.