Triple Crash At Kaiwaka

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1938, Page 7

Triple Crash At Kaiwaka

Late yesterday afternoon, a bend approaching Fern Ridge bridge, on the main Auckland-Northland highway, near, Kaiwaka, was a veritable graveyard for cars, three within the course of a very few minutes, being rendered hors de combat at the same spot. First, there was a collision between a car being driven northwards by Mr R. S. Rice, of Whangarei, and a southgoing car, with Mr Allan, of Auckland, at the wheel. Both are insurance agents, and they were just commencing an expert’s examination of the damage when the Atlantic Union’s oil van, from Auckland, pulled up. Anxious to lend a hand to the distressed motorists, the driver left the van, but had hardly done so than a light car, driven by Mr C. L. Bagnall, of Dargaville, fell into the net, colliding forcibly with the rear of the van. Her head coming into contact with the roof, Mrs Bagnall received a severe bump, while Mr Bagnall was severely cut about the lips. Their car, like that of Mr Allan, was extensively damaged, the radiator being pushed into the engine. Wrecking trucks from Maungaturoto, Whangarei and Dargaville were summonded to the spot, and the three cars, none of which was able to proceed under its own power, were towed to garages at the respective centres. Heavy rain was falling at the time, the gloom being relieved only by occasional flashes of lightning.

such a mediator, to be less obstinate than had appeared. “It is quite obvious that the task of anyone undertaking this duty is going to be very exacting, very responsible and very delicate, and Britain has felt it was fortunate in having secured from Viscount Runciman a promise to undertake it, provided he was assured of the confidence of the Sudeten Germans, as I hope he will be, as well as of the assistance of Czechoslovakia.” A Delicate Task. Mr Chamberlain spoke highly of Lord Runciman’s qualifications. Replying to an interjection from the Opposition, he made it clear that he would go in no sense as an arbitrator, but as an investigator and mediator, who would try to acquaint himself with all the facts and views of the two sides. His position would bo not unlike that of a man who went to help to settle a strike. Lord Runciman had stipulated that j he must be accepted on both sides. When Mr Churchill interjected an I inquiry as to whether he had been aci cepted on both sides. Mr Chamberlain | replied: “We have not yet heard from the Sudeten Germans.”