MORNINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6502, 14 December 1882, Page 3

MORNINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of this Council was held last evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr English), Crs Stansfield, Denniston, Smith, Hadfield, Millar, Dickison, and Scott. CORRESPONDENCE. A memorial was read, signed by a number of ratepayers in Third Ward, expressing surprise that Cr Hadfiold had been asked to resign his position in the Council. They had every confidence in him. —The memorial was received, Cr Austing wrote resigning his position as councillor for Third Ward.—The resignation was accepted, with an expression of regret. ■ A number of ratepayers • wrote requesting the Council to go on with the formation of a footpath in the Eglinton road. —The matter was referred to the engineer to report upon. The City Council wrote stating that the Council's request regarding the removal of the steps at the top of High street, and the formation of a footpath instead, had been referred to the city surveyor to attend to. MOTIONS. The following resolutions were moved and carried: — By Cr Millar—"That the engineer be instructed to prepare specifications for the several works passed by this Council, and that tenders be called for the same." By Cr Smith—"That notice of motion be given for all works over £10, and that tenders be called for all works over £20." By Cr Denniston—" That Mailer street be reduced to its permanent level and full width where the tramway crossing has been allowed, and it and the approaches formed and metalled; and that the engineer be instructed to prepare plans to give effect to this resolution at a cost not exceeding £110, and to call for tenders for the same without delay." „ Cr Hadfield gave notice of motion—" That Crosby road be formed to its permanent level from the Neidpath road to the quarry; cost not to exceed £15." COMPLIMENTARY. Cr Denniston, as the oldest member of the Council, desired to express to the Mayor the pleasure he and his colleagues had felt in working with his Worship during.his term, of office. The year had been marked by the initiation of the tramway, one of the most important events that had taken place in their midst for some time, and he regretted that the Mayor had not sought reelection, so that he might have presided at the completion of the undertaking. The Mayor said that although he would not again meet the councillors at an ordinary meeting, ho hoped to have that pleasure at the installation of his successor, when he would take the opportunity of saying a few words.

After we Ind* got a little farther round the curve I saw that the two trainß Were on the same lino. We were then separated by about 100 yards only. I immediately put on the steam brake, blew the danger whistle, and opened the sand-boxes, and as I had not put steam on again, our speed soon slackened until, when the" trains collided, we wero almost at a standstill." Just as the crash occurred I was in the very act of reversing the engines. The disaster would have been much less violent had the other train been supplied with steam brakes. Tho concussion threw me into the tender, and the recoil sent me back on the engine. I should have been dashed from this position to the ground had it not been for my watch-chain, which caught in the reversing gear, and being made of thick steel links, was strong enough to hold me. My fireman was thrown off the engine, I believe. My right leg is severely strained, and I am rather lame, but at the time I felt little pain, owing to the excitement.

William Statter, who resides at Sandridge, states as follows:—On Saturday last I was driving engine No. 32, attached to the train which leaves Hobson's Bay station at seven minutes past G p.m. for Hawthorn. My mate, or fireman, was Thomas Phillips. Our train consisted of 11 carriages, including two vans. Nothing occurred until we were within a short distance of a pair of gates which are situated about three train lengths from the Burnley street station we had just left, and at that place I told Phillips that the fires required attending to. We were then getting into a guild speed, and I looked ahead. In a moment 1 saw the funnel of the Boxhill train rounding the curve by Picnic station, and as I knew that the line was being worked single, I felt at once that a collision must take place. I shouted out, "Good God Almighty! Tom, put your brakes on, lad 1" At the same instant I reversed the engine. Tom screwed down his brake, and I blow the danger whistle. Tom said, " What is it?" and then, "What shall we do?" "It's life or death, now," I said. " Stick to her.!" We wished each other good-bye, and stuck to the engine like leeches. A moment afterwards the two trains came into collision. I was thrown off the engine and became insensible. I must have remained in that condition for some time. When I recovered consciousness I found myself lying among a great heap of the ruins of the carriages. Close alongside of me was th& funnel of No.: 32, my own engine, and considering its position, it w a miracle_ how I escaped from its falling on me. > Had it struck me I believe it would have killed me. As soon as I could get on my feet I braced myself together and looked round, and seeing that people were engaged in assisting the wounded, and extricating them from the carriages, I went and did all I could to help them. I worked at this till I could stick to it no longer, and I then went to the shop of a chemist in Hawthorn, where I got my wounds dressed. It was a lucky thing We stopped at the Burnley street station. If we had not done so the collision would in all probability have taken place on the bridge across the Yarra, which is only a short distance beyond Picnic station, and in that case there would not have been a soul left to tell the tale. I had only handbrakes on my engine.