KILLED ON RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20508, 8 March 1930, Page 14

KILLED ON RAILWAY.

JIG GI- R STRU C K BY TRAt M.' NO BLAME ATTACHABLE, ' [Br TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAUMAEUNUI. Friday, An inquest concerning the death of Joseph Blacker, of permanent way, in the employ of the Railway Department, who was killed when a baltest ■ train struck the jigger on which he was riding, was held at Taumarunui to-diiy before Mr. A. S. Laird, district coroner'. John James Allingham said he was driving a train which left Okahukura about 2 p.m. for Taringamotu. The engine was travelling with the " bunker " in front. When about a mile and a-half past Okahukura he noticed a jigger ap- ' proaching. It was about 50yds. in frent of the train.

Thereupon he called out to his mate to cut off steam,, reversed the engihe and applied the emergency brake. He ciiid not see a man on the jigger, as his attention was taken up -with the engine. The train was travelling about 17 to 20 miles an hour. After he had applied Ihe brakes the engine travelled about 200 yds. before being pulled up. Witness said he could not have stopped the train sooner. Deceased's body rolled out on to the path alongside the line when the train stopped. He, was sure deceased was familiar with the rnnrting time of the train. They waited at Okahukura for a special train to arrive from Taumarunui before proceeding to Taringamotu. Blacker was following the special train. Witness knew that a light engine was to follow the special train, ana evidently Blacker thought it would follow him before the ballast train was allowed to depart from Okahukura. Frank Merson, signalman, said he understood from a conversation with Blacker that he intended to travel after the light engine, but he did not do so. During the conversation ■ there was no mention of a ballast train. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed, no blanjo being attachable to anyone.