THE RAKAIA RAILWAY COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11010, 14 March 1899, Page 5

THE RAKAIA RAILWAY COLLISION.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

FULL INQUIRY TO BE HELD. [BV TRIEGBAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Oiibiwhtrch, Monday. AX inquest tin the bodies of the victims of the railway accident was opened this motnin.', and after the jury had viewed the Mies, it was adjourned till Friday. The jury proceeds this afternoon to view the scene of the accident, Hie My of a young woman, supposed to be that (if Miss Jones, has been identified bv her mother as that of Rose Harwood, aged 16 years. It was discovered this morning that Miss Jones had been in the hospital since ...an 7.

The corrected list of the killed is as follows : —

Mary Ann Franks, aged 27 years. Francis Evelyn Jones. £4 years. Rose Harwood. 16 years. A baby named Bun-den. No more wounded are reported. T , . Later. There is very little fresh to report concerning the railway accident. The jury and coroner inspected the scene of the accident at Rakaia in the afternoon. The damaged car., had been removed to the siding, and l very good idea of the general crash could be obtained. It was nut easy to ascertain the exact spot-at which the collision occurred, but that was determined closely enough fur practical purposes. The jury walked down the line to a slight hill. 300 yds to the south of the Rakaia station, and found the station visible from the hollow bevond.

General satisfaction is expressed here that the Minister has ordered an open investigation.

Must of the public bodies, including the Hvlevan Conference and the St. John Ambulance Association, have adopted resolutions of sympathy with the relatives of those killed, and the Mayor has received several telegrams of sympathy. A sensation was occasioned bv the identification of Miss Hitnvood's body. Rumours have been current that two persons injured have since died, but thev lack confirmation. Many of those suffering minor injuries are at their own homes, and it is impossible as yet to (jive the total number of the injured, t'or the same reason it is not easy to obtain ii definite denial of the rumours of fresh deaths, but it is practically certain that beyond the four killed outright there are no further fatalities. At latest advices all the wounded who are in the hospitals here are progressing favourably towards recovery. Wia.T.iNCTOw Monday. ( The Railway Department has decided to 'lave a full inquiry made into the railway accident at Rnknia on Saturday evening, ■•'l'd the Minister for Railways has reonested District Judge Ward, assisted by two officers of the department, to hold such inquiry, which will lake place shortly after the inquest has concluded. Mr. Rnnayue, the general manager of railways, leaves for l hristchurch to-morrow, to make personal investigation of the circumstances. [IIV TKLKIiltArn- OWN rOMIESPOXDKXT.] Wellington, Monday. The Minister for Railways was informed of the accident immediately intelligence was received here yesterday, through the teleL'laph. He was staying at Featherston. He came to town this morning. The heads of the Department say that the train was not late, and that the second train could be seen the whole way between Chertscy md Rakaia.

Railway experts here believe the explanation of the disaster is to be found in the fact that the driver overshot the distance lOvds.

Westingbnnse brakes are not supplied to all trains in New Zealand, mainly owing to the heavy expense.