LEVEL CROSSING DEATHS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1903, 24 April 1913, Page 4

LEVEL CROSSING DEATHS.

The toll of the railways in human lives this year has been a very heavy one. The number of fatalities at level crossings is increasing with alarming rapidity. The death of Mr Broad at Marton and the narrow escape of two residents at the same place a few weeks ago, and yesterday the sad fatality at Fei:dinghave created a feeling of intense dissatisfaction in this district with the present conditions in regard to level crossings in populous parts. What was good enough 80 years ago is utterly inadequate to safeguard the public in these days of rapidly travelling and frequently passing expresses. But though this district has suffered heavily, accidents have similarly occurred in other parts of the country. It will be recalled that in most cases they have happened at crossings in fairly populous localities. If it is impossible for the Department because of the expense to provide safeguards ->t all the level crossings, attention should be devoted to localities near the towns and cities, or where approach to a casing is concealed It is evident that something will have to be done Outraged public opinion will demand it. There cannot be a continuance of the sacrifice of human lives as in the pa-r, few months. The engine drivers themselves will require it, for they are only ordinary men, and feel the nerve-shattering effects of c-unh accidents. The authorities should not shank from facing the necessary cost of efficient safeguards of public safety.

Meetings of h(jnseh<»]ders to elect school coiuuii: it.c-. wiii be held in the respective schools on Monday next. Old-fashioned dwelling-houses are said to be hopelessly out of favour in Dunedin. The demand is all for modern " bungalows,"-containing five or six rooms, and equipped with all the latest furnishings and other fixings. In one suburb last week no fewer than seven new cottages found purchasers at prices ranging fioui £ii r )0 to £750. It is stated that the fnar simple folk once had of mortgages has qui le disappeared. Dunedin Star.

New Zealand's import trade is reported to be exceptionally heavy this year (says the Puts I's Dunedin correspondent. All the steamers scheduled to load at Home berths for months to come are assured (it is repoited locally) of full cargoes. The shipping companies have had difficulty during the past three months in clearing all the cargo offering for shipment to Australasia. The hockey season opened yesterday with one of the most successful displays ever seen in this district. The officials were as keen as the players. "A very large number of games were got off but everything was well up to time and well managed. It is evident, however, that very soon Palmerston will be short of recreation grounds. The secretary of the Horowlienua Rugby Union at the annual meeting was instructed to wiite to the New Zealand Rugby Union for permission to disb»nd]the combination formed last year between Horowhenua and Manawatu Rugby Unions for purposes of playing representative games against the stronger unions. Only one game wa3 played last year, and as fruit of this mode £ll are banked to the joint credit of these combinations. An endeavour was made to have a second match arrarged between a combined team and the Taranaki representatives, but the procedure and the proposed team smacked so much of Manawatu and so little of Horowhenua that the Horowhenua Union would have nr>ne of it—and the unions drifted apart. —Chronicle. At the seventh annual meeting of subscribers to All Saints' Children's Home on Tuesday evening, the Rev H. G. Rosher said that the Board of Control would very probably have to consider the question of further accommodation for girls. The boys were hoarded out when they were able to wo; k. :;nu the girls were left on their hands. A large number of applications to take in girls had to be refused Messrs K. Wilson, J. Barnicoat, and W. H Lewis were elected a Board of Control, with the officers. Mesdames L. A. Abraham, Lyons, Porritt and Rosher were appointed a ladies' committee. Votes of tha ks were passed to the matron and staff, Dr Stowe, Messrs Bond, Wither, Penman, Hunt, Whitehead Bros, Dustin, Ashworth, Coupor, Manawatu Meat Co, Alexandra Tea Rooms, Gas Co. and the press. The interim report of the manager of the Masterton municipal gasworks, presented at last meeting of the Borough Council, shows that the total revenue for the past year amounted to £12,298, against an expenditure of £12,899. The former shows an increase of £1139 12s 5d on the previous year. Included in the year's expenditure is a sum of £1,799 IBs 7d for new plant. Two petitions signed by members of the borough staff and permanent workers at the municipal gasworks, were received at the meeting of the Borough Council. The increased cost of living and the high charge for houße rent were the main reason given for the request, the petitioners stating that they found it impossible to make two ends meet under the present scale of pay. Trie council expressed its sympathy with the petitioners, but decided "that the matter was one for the incoming council to deal with.

A scheme to provide for inland navigation between the Waitemata Harbour and the Waikato river, via tne Manukau Harbour, and possibly between the Waitemata and Kaipara Harbours at some date, is being brought before the Harbour Board in the form of a notice of motion by Mr J. E. Taylor, who asks that it should be considered not later than at the first ordinaiy meeting in June. The motion suggests engaging the services of some eminent firm of British engineers, and requesting them to personally inspect and report on the great possibilities of our eastern and western harbours, and advise as to the desirability of constructing an embankment and lock at various points across the tidal rivers and estuaries under the Board's jurisdiction, and tkuß impound their waters. The conduct of a small body of roysterers in Dannevirke last week has reacted on the camp in general. The aftermath of the revels made itself apparent in camp on Saturday, says the Post's correspondent. Sunday is usually a day off, and the Territorials did not relisii the idea of a twelve-mile march to Dannevirke Some of the bolder spirits made up their minds to break camp in spite of the strong bodies of pickets posted at all bridges and crossroads and parading Dannevirke in search of camp breakers. Accordingly, the rebels mastered 100 strong, and. amid shouts and counter shouts, gesticulations, and warlike demonstrations, marched up the road to Dannevirke armed witli saplings, stones, and other weapons of offence to rush the pickets. Uproar raged round the camp. Bands of noisv supporters followed at a distance along the railway line to see the fun. The noise proved the downfall of the campbreakers. A party of officers set off in a motor car to overtake them, aud were greeted with hoots and one or two missiles. They drove on, and the rebels passed the first picket, a small one. About a mile further up the road they ware intercepted by the officers and a strong picket. Asked to explain their conduct, the men said, in language more pointed than polite, that they resented the cancellation of leave as punishing tlu 1 many for the few. and they objected to the Sunday march into i)annevirke. After a wild harangue they were prevailed on to return to camp and lay their grievance before the brigadier-general, who quietened them with a promise of leave at a later date. It was an ugly incident, aud, but for tactful handling, it might have been worse. The handling of offenders, however, leaves something to be desired.

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'1 he annual meeting of mi ishouers of All stmts' parish will be held at B.li> this evening. Mr W. S. Mala<jniu, who is well known in Christchuroh, told a Presi* reporter that ho, had read with interest a paragraph sating that in Auckland the friends of a sick had advertised for snails, believing that they would aid her to recovery. Mr Malaqnin says that in his native district of Orleans snails were prescribed for his sister, who was consumptive. She was ordered to take the small ones which crawl upon the vines, pick them from their shells, and eat them alive. She did so, and was cured. The prescription is not an unusual one in France, and ii often most successful. In the cas# of his own children, here in New Zealand, he has cured bad colds by means of a syrup made from snails, and if anyone should wish to know how to make the syrup he will be pleased to tell them.

The enterprising Christchurch lad whose sketch of a picture comedy has been accepted by the Yitagraph Company of America, is Master Starr King Mason, a lad only 18 vears of age. His play is entitled "Leading of the Light." Of it the secretary of the Vitagraph Company says, in a recent letter to the young author "With regard to your manuscript of the play entitled 'Leading of th« Light,' we shall bo pleased to send you for this manuscript the sum of forty dollars, as the play is, indeed, „ exceptionally well written, and. will, no doubt, prove an excellent picture, if well acted and staged. Considering your age, you hav« proved yourself to be an excellentwriter, and we trust and hope that you will forward us more of your plays.''