TRAM ACCIDENT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12648, 7 January 1904, Page 3

TRAM ACCIDENT.

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST, [press association.] AUCKLAND, Wednesday.

The inquest into the deaths caused by the recent tram accident ended today, when the jury brought in the following verdict: — “That Ann Young Hogarth met her death on the night of December 24th, 1903, on double-deck car No. 39. proceeding from Kingsland to Auckland, by a trolley pole breaking away from the conductor, the said trolley arm becoming unmanageable, striking her on the head, and causing her death; that the death of Benjamin Lindsay was caused through the. colliding of car No. 39 and combination car No. 32; that the deatli of Wm. Caley was caused through a collision between cars Nos. 39 and 32 on the night of December 24th, 1903.”

The jury also found that the cause of the collision on the night of December 24th was through the ratchet brake failing to act, causing the motorman to lose his head, and through his .want of knowledge he did not use the other brakes under his command.

The following rider was added; 1 — “That in consequence of the steep grades in and around Auckland the use of double-decker ears be discontinued. We also recommend that the company’s mode of teaching motormen and conductors is inadequate; more stringent measures should be adopted; and life guards should be attached to cars with as little delay as possible. We agree that the brake power on the cars is quite satisfactory when in proper order and in the hands of persons who understand the brakes. We also agree that motormen and conductors should be subject to medical examination as to their fitness. We are also of opinion that the speed on downgrades should be reduced."

The coroner stated that he proposed to place the rider before the authority in New Zealand which represented the Board of Trade.

Mr Vickerman, district engineer, explained that this was the Minister for Public Works.