THE FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT WELLINGTON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 14 September 1880, Page 2

THE FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT WELLINGTON.

(BY TELEGRAPH,) Feathekston, Sept. 13. The inquest on the bodies of Ada Pharazyn and Francis John Nicholas, killed through the railway accident, took place to-day, Mr. .Izard watching the evidence on behalf of the Government. Mr, Spratt acted as coroner and Mr, W, IJ. Bunny as foreman. In the early Ro.rtfan of the day only the medical eyid'enpe was given as to the cause of death, The jury viewed the bodies and then adjourned to the scene of the disaster by special train from Featheraton, and on their return the inquest was adjourned to enable the jurors to attend the funeral of Mr. G. Pharazvn's daughter and Mr. Nicholas' son. There was a very large number of sympathisers from all parts of the Prcn vince. The inquest was then resumed. Mr. Quinn., hetfelkeeper, §ta,tes that he wftS 3 in th,e train with hjg wife ancl five children. He noticed nothing until they got about three chains from the ! second tunnel, Then the gravel was blown against the side of the carriage from the front, ? . He noticed the two first carriages leave the rails, and he was then thrown down inside the carriage about fifty feet down the embankment, The carriage was on its side. Jn his opinion the wind was not the cause of the accident on this occasion, as frequently he experienced heavier wind. In reply to the foreman, he attributed the disaster to the carriages not being properly coupled. He states he saw them uncoupled. Witness was very undecided at this point. He states he was told by a man named Montgomery that, there were two new hands on the engine, and that they had ft bottle of brandy from Featheraton, ans the driver a,ns fireman wer§ the worge for l^qup,r. ... Montgomery wjU he subpoenaed to. morrow, and examined aa to this statement, This closed the prooeedinga until tomorrow,

LATEST NEWS. Featherstone, September 14. James Montgomery, a laborer, residing at Matarua, deposed : I was a passenger in the morning train, and was in the second carriage of the train. All was right until we were near the second tunnel. I then noticed a strong gust of wind and a crash of the first carriage. The one I was in gradually fell over on its side, throwing tho occupants all together. I took the dead child Quinn from underneath his mother and Mrs. Hodge. I saw that he was dead, and then went down the gully and saw Ida Pharajiyn lying dead, She was-not quite at the bottom of, the bank. The boy jFicholas was lying higher up towards the tunnel with the top of liis skull cut and his brains hanging out. I saw a clergyman assisting. Mr. Jackson, of Greytown, to shelter, and went to his 'help, and put Mr. Hare, with a bad cut on his head, alongside him. Most of the passengers in the first carriage were lying down at the bottom of tho bank. 'lh answer to tho Coroner,' witness further Baid : I noticed that th? wind was rather ,aqually t b\\t ijt wasnochyig extro

of the carriage. Then I heard a crash. I had no reason to suppose that the wind was blowing heavier than usual. I noticed nothing to account for the overturning of the carriages, and nothing irregular in the couplings. The coupling-iron did not give way. One buffer was broken after the accident, but the chains were all right. I know nothing of the other two vans which were behind the engine. I did not speak to either the driver or fireman till after the accident, and I- found they did all in their power. All the men were willing and competent. To the foreman : I did not see a bottle of brandy in the possession of the driver or stoker, and I did not know who was in charge of the engine. The foreman then read Quinn's evidence. Witness : I deny altogether that I told Quinn the driver and stoker were new hands. The only brandy I saw was some given to the English passengers, and I don't know where it came from. I had no conversation whatever with Quinn. I do not know; the liquor was brandy, but it was out of a brandy bottle. I did not see any signs of intoxication about any of the officials. I do not know if the men are new hands or not. Assistance came after the accident. Very soon Mr. Ross came with blankets, &c., and the hands from Creek, and gave every assistance. Henry Dunn, sworn, said : I am a settlers at Tauerenekau, and was a passenger from Featlierston on the morning of the 11th instant, in the second-class compartment of the first carriage at the front of the train— the first compartment of the leading carriage. I was standing outside on the platform. I first noticed a gust of wind, which took the carriage bodily off the rails, about 150 yards before we reached the second turn. The carriage capsized, and I was pitched off. All the body of the carriage was knocked off the frame, smashed, and rolled down the hill. I saw nothing more till I reached the bottom of the embankment. I picked myself up, and, assisted by my brother and others, picked up the dead body of a boy, and put it on one side. I noticed that the couplings which held the first carriage were smashed. The roof of it was in the stream at the bottom of the gully. I would not awear that the second carriage was capsized when I picked myself up. I noticed after the incline van was detached, that two wagens blew over, and I think that was the time that the carriage and van in front of the engine blew over. I then went down to the Cross Creek for assistance.

Quinn, re-called, said : I have been under a mistake about the brandy. It hastbeen explained to me that the brandy was given by myself. I had it in my bag with me in the train. Ido not know to whom I gave it. I have no reason to suppose that the driver or stoker had brandy with them.

The Foreman (Mr. Bunny) spoke very strongly on this recantation, censuring the Coroner for taking hearsay statements, such as that of Quinn re brandy, as evidence, thereby, allowing such a lie to go forth twenty-four hours in advance of the contradiction. The Coroner (Dr. Spratt) upheld his conduct oji the ground that it was better to have such statements brought and contradioted, and he said that he would always pursue the same course while Coroner. LATE ENGJJSH AND FOREIGN NEWS. (SPECIAL TO THE SYDNEY PAPERS.) London, September 3. The news from the Cape is unsatisfactory. The Basutos are not submitting quietly to British authority, and decline to disarm. The Porte has issued orders for the Turkish squadron in the Levant to reinforce. The fanatical party influence the Sultan, and urge him to proceed to extremes in his defence of the independence of Turkey. The Italian Budget shows a great increase in the estimates of the military. The Governors ask foj additional two millions to render the army effective. September 4. Ayoub's flight from the battle was so precipitate that the whole camp and equipage fell into the hands of the victors. The spojla are immense. In consequence of the strategy of General Roberts, a large portion of the Afghau army was covered by British artillery. Ayoub's troops surrendered in thousands. Ten thousand Afghans were captured. The total collapse of Ayoub's force was due to a want of cohesion between the soldiers from Herat and the mutinous regiments from Cabul. The Cabulese fled down the Avgandak Yalley, and the were drawn off towards the Helmund River. The cavalry started in hot pursuit, and killed 500 fugitives who refused to surrender. General Roberts brought his whole force up to the attack, leaving only a very small garrison in Candahar. He was aided by friendly Afghans under the Wall of Candahar. The total loss, including killed, wounded, and missing, on, the British side, amounts to upwards of 1000. Of these only 90 were Europeans. Qolonel M'Lean, who has been in the hands of the since the defeat oi General Borrows 1 brigade,, and who up to, a reoent date was well. treated by them, was murdered befoyfe the battle. The deceased ogiQer a general favorite in the army, and his sad fate is universally regretted,

: September 6. To-day, the match between the Australians and the All England Eleven was witnessed by 30,000 people. Spofl'orth did not play, in consequence of one of his fingers having been broken in the match against 18 of Scarborough. September 7. The match between England and Australia was resumed to-day, owing to the rain over night the wicket was dead. The remaining Englishmen, were soon disposed of, the innings terminating for a total of 42Q. The following are the scores 5 ALL ENGLAND —FIRST INNINCiS. W. G. Grace 152 E. M. Grace ... 36 LuQaa w 55 Barnes ~ 28 Harris 52 Penu 23 Steele 42 Lyttelton 13, G. F. Grace , Q Shaw 0 Morley, run out 2 Sundries ~, ... ... 19 Total 420 AUSTRALIANS —FIRST INNINGS. Murdoch ... ... ... 0 Bannerman 32 Groube 11 M'Donnell 27 Bonner ~, 2 Boyle ... ... 36 0 Slight 11 Palmer ... 6 Alexander 6 Moule 6 Sundries 12 Total 149 SECOND INNINGS. Murdoch, not out ... 79 Bannerman ... ... 8 Grbube" .... ... ... 0 • McDonnell ... .. A 43 Slight ... ... 0 Blackhatft... 19 Bonner ... 13 Boyle '■*„ ... ... 3 Sundries ... ... ... 5 Total on six wickota ,170 ;

* , • « , ® e P t embGV'B. Austria, Germany, and Roumania, havn concluded a treaty by which they guarnn ' tee . the integrity of Roumania, with a view to its erection as a kingdom thn object being to shut out Russia from Bulgaria. n

The Times, in an article referring to the Prince of Wales having abandoned his intention of visiting Australia for the present, says the Melbourne Exhibition is likely to be interesting and instructive • but that it would be more successful if tfJ Victorian Government would abandon its prejudices to allow exhibits to be sold duty free. Calcutta, September 7. Since the decisive victory of the British over Ayoub Khan, the native population are far less troublesome, and quiet seems to, be restored. The road from Qnettah to Candahar is re-opened, and the interruption of communication with the city removed. Cavalry patrols report that the villages near Candahar are full of Afghan dSirl and wounded. It is stated that the British cavalry commence their return to India in a fortnight.