LATER INFORMATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1909, Page 5

LATER INFORMATION.

Since the collision between the Picton and Seddon trains took place this morning and the first report of the occurrence was in type an Exhkbss reporter made innumerable inquiries as to the cause of the.collision. Ihe explanation given by Driver Cunclitte to a local merchant in the presence of our representative was that the slippery condition of the rails was responsible for the high rate of speed at which the Picton tram was travelling, and in support of that he stated that he found it very difficult to get his engine going notwithstanding the fact that he had applied sand to the wheels. McKelby, driver of the Picton train, attributed the collision to the fact that the lines were slippery, and that the brakes refused to act. Mr McNichol, stationmaster at Blenheim, when interviewed, said he was not at the station when the 1 icton train came in, but when he saw the Seddon train going out while on his way to his office he concluded that something was wrong. When pressed to give his opinion he said he could only reiterate Driver McKelby's statement, namely, that the lines were slippery, and that the tram could not be stopped. He admitted that it was a breach of the regulations for a driver t to take his train into the station without at first haying been signalled to do so. He did not think any signal had been given to the Picton train to run. into tho station. It was an offence for a train to be driven over the Opawa Bridge without an official preceding it to see that everything was clear. He could give no further information,: but stated that full particulars would be given at the inquiry which would necessarily follow.