THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT CHEVIOT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11188, 9 February 1897, Page 6

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT CHEVIOT.

TO THE EDXTOE. Sir, —The inquest on the above accident has brought to light a practice that shows gross carelessness on the part of those concerned. At the inquest, a youth named James Clarkson gave evidence that he was in charge of a four-horse dray at the time the accident occurred. Ido not object to that, as it would appear that A. Hammond was allowing the boy to get his hand in to driving. But it conies out now that Clarkson had previously on several occasions been on that road with the same dray, principally wool loading, by himself. What his age may be I know not, but it is only a few months since he left school to act as camp-keeper for Hammond. I find here that the practice of youths being on the road in charge of teams is not confined to Clarkson’s case. The wonder is that there have not been more accidents, as these youths are not only a danger to themselves, but also to others who may come in contact with them, especially as some of the roads here are not the best for beginners to practise upon. How, as it takes the laws of a. country to keep common sense before the eyes of its wise-acre inhabitants, is there any law relating to youths being a given age before being legally on the road in charge of horses, &c. ? If not, how many accidents will it take to direct the attention of our legislators to this careless practice ? Cheviot is in a fair way at present to fill up the number.—l am, &e., AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.