FATAL ACCIDENT AT KAIWARRA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6272, 19 May 1881, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT AT KAIWARRA.

A fatal accident, by which an old Tawa Flat settler, named‘William Peckham, lost his life, occurred at XCaiwarra on 25th ult. In order to give a proper idea of the circumstances which directly and indirectly led to the occurrence, we may explain that the old bridge across the Kaivvarra stream on the main road leading from the oity to the country districts has been broken up, in order that a new structure may be erected in its place. The gap which has thus been caused’ is barricaded at night, and proper lights are supposed to be kept burning to warn travellers of all descriptions of the danger. In order not to interrupt the usual traffic, a road has been cut for two or three chains up the southern side of the stream. This gradually slopes down towards it, leading to a good fording place, and from thence back to the main road on the northern aide, which it joins nearly opposite the Rainbow Hotel. A narrow roa 1, known as the School-road, also runs along the southern bank of the stream, at a height of about eight feet above it, there being no railing or anything whatever to divide it from the cutting leading to the ford, so that anyone travelling along it from the bridge gradually finds the bank on his right-hand side increasing i»depth until the new cutting reaches the level of the stream. This spot is about three chains from the main road. Two lights give warning of danger at the bridge, but no other signal whatever is met with until the ford has been reached, when a dim light is picked up, which gives an indication of the spot where the bank is to be ascended on the northern side, Mr. Peckham

left his farm early in the morning with his horse and cart, taking a load of wood to the city. Having disposed of it, he started on the return journey with an empty cart, and, according to" the statements of those who saw him last, perfectly fit and capable to take care of himself and his property. He reached Kaiwarra about 7.30 p.m., or shortly thereafter. What took place at the stream can he pretty accurately described, as the tracks of his wheels supply the only link that would otherwise be missing between the time he passed the to’luate and the time his body, with his horse

and cart, were fonn 1 in the stream. Having reached the proper place for turning off towards the ford, he went up stream, but took the schofl road in place of the new cutting. After two exceedingly narrow escapes from running over the sideVf the bank, probably caused thronghhishorsehaving discovered that it had come by the lower road in the mornng, and wanting to get to it. he came to a point from which he could see the guiding light on the opposite side of the stream. His near* wheel was then quite close to the steep bill out of which the road had been cat. Here the unfortunate man either found out his mistake and tried to turn round, or, all unconscious of it, deliberately turned his horse towards the light in order to make the ford. The latter is the more probable, for very few drivers would attempt to turn on such a narrow road, or, in fact, on any cutting without first ascertaining whether there was room for doing so with safety. At any rate, the horse made a short turn towards the stream, fell down to the new cutting, ; the cart, of course, being pulled over with it, and from thence rolled into the stream, where it remained lying on its back, the cart being also turned completely over, the driver falling under it in a depth of water which was sufficient to reach the bottom of the dray, and therefore sufficient to drown him had he not been rendered insensible, as is very probable, by a severe blow which he received on his forehead. The water does not, however, appear to have been deep enough to drown the horse. At 7.4? p.m. several men noticed the horse and cirfc lying in the stream, and three of them, named John Harris, Thomas Bevan, and Lewis Kenniss, at once jumped into the water, released the horse, and then righted and pulled out the cart. There being nobody about to claim them, they proceeded to search the stream, where John Harris sooa found the body. They pulled it out without delay and conveyed it to the Rainbow Hotel, where it was placed in a room. It was at once evident

that any attempt to restore animation would prove entirely futi'e. A messenger was despatched to the city, but it having been found that life was extinct it was not thought necessary to procure medical aid. Mr. Feckbam was well-known as an old settler at Tawa Plat, and had earned for himself the respect of all who knew him. Though not in very good circumstances, he had for some little time past contemplated selling out and going Home. We understand that he was about fifty-five years of age, and a native of Peckham, London. fie leaves a widow, who is in very indifferent health, and a large family. It is to be hoped that they will be subjected to the strictest investigation. With regard to the works which are at present being carried out, and which indirectly led to the accident, we may say that they are on a road which is under the control of the Hutt County Council, the contract being in the hands of Messrs. Crabtree and Son. That the place has not been sutficiently supplied with lights at night time is undeniable, but which of the contracting parties is to blame in this matter we are not prepared to say. We have been informed that after f* o’clock on Saturday night there were no lights at all. At the inquest, the jury returned the following verdict : “ The said William Packham, on the fiEth day of April, 1831, came to his death through the upsetting of his cart in the ICaiwarra stream, the upsetting of the said cart being caused through the responsible persons neglecting to properly indicate the road vehicles should take during the repairs to the Kaiwarra bridge, the route being neither sufficiently lighted nor properly guarded.”