THE 'BUS AND TRAM COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12819, 20 March 1905, Page 7

THE 'BUS AND TRAM COLLISION.

CONTINUATION OF THE INQUEST.

FURTHER EVIDENCE TAKEN. The inquest upon the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Foster, who was killed in the Symonds-street 'bus and tram collision on February 13, was continued before the coroner (Mr. T. Ureshain), at St. Andrew's Hall, Lower Symonds-street, on Saturday morning. Sergeant Hendry represented the police, while Messrs. J. 0. Martin and I*. E. Bauine appeared for the uiotoiman, Air. F. Karl for Messrs. Pulton, and Armita-ge (owners of the 'bus) and driver (»auley, and Mr. E. C. Blomfield (on behalf of Mr. V. J. Pan) for the relatives of the deceased. MISS ANDERSON'S EVIDENCE, Miss Anderson, of Lincoln-street, I'on.vonby, stated she was a passenger by flanley's 'bus from St. Heliers Bay on the date in question, she being seated inside the 'bus. She could not say where the deceased was seated. She remembered stopping at the top of Symonds-street, where several passengers got out. Occupying one of the back seats, she sat facing the driver. Sergeant Hendry: What first drew your attention to the fact that something was wrong? Witness': I saw the driver looking back, | when w© were below East-street, and before he attempted to cross the rails. ' What did you do'/ —I looked back after ho did. Had the 'bus then attempted to cross the line?— Yes. What did you .see?l saw the car behind, about 15yds away. At what rate was the car going?lt appeared to me to bo going veiy quickly. 1 thought from the position of the 'bus that there was going to bo a collision. I called out, but hardly before the crash came. Did you hear any gong? —Yes, as I looked round I heard it ringing; it seemed to bo ringing continuously. Mr. Karl: How far was the 'bus across tha down lino when the impact occurred? —About half-way across. Sergeant Hornby: Can you fix the time, Miss Anderson?—No, I cannot. The Coroner: The question has arisen as to whether the driver's view was obstructed or not. Were any of the ladies wearing large hats? Mrs. Hill was right behind flio driver, and ho had to look round Iter. THE MOTORMAN'S STORY. Motorman Partridge, who was in the box when the Court adjourned the previous day, then continued his evidence. In answer to Mr. Earl, witness said that when ho had gone 20yds or 30yd.s past. Eaststreet he cut off power and applied the ratchet-brake. If he had known that Ganley was going to cross ho would not have run info him. Mr. Karl: Was not the fact that lie was on the line a. warning to you that lie was going to cross? — did not dream that ho was going to crass. If 1 had I would have stopped tho car. You saw that tho 'bus was on the upline, and that a double-decker was approaching? Yes. The double-decker was right; down at the corner of Karangahapo Road. Well, seeing tho double-decker, did you not think that Ganlev was going to cross? —I thought that Ganley, to have avoided an accident, would have pulled over to the other side, but. really, the double-decker was not near enough to interfere with him. Was it not your duty, under the circumstances, to have slowed down?—No, as I had tho car sufficiently in hand. If wo slowed down for incidents like that we would bo slowing down all day. You did not, then, attempt to slacken your speed until the collision? —I attempted to stop the car as soon as I saw the horses upon the down line. r How far were the horses off you then? I don't remember tho distance. You say that you had no warning at all. How, then, do you account for Mr. Reynolds discussing the probability of an accident. 011 the top of the double-decker?— cannot account for it at all, but I had no wanting. Continuing, witness said that if the car was two lengths away when the 'bus started to cross the line, it followed that the car travelled four lengths after the application of the emergency. The inquiry was then adjourned until two o'clock to-day.