CHRISTCHURCH TRAM SMASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17630, 21 May 1919, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH TRAM SMASH

STATEMENT BY HON. J. BARE,. ACCIDENT PNF.XPT .AINAJ^LE. Afc the) mpfAirtg of the Ohrisfcohurch Tramway Board on Monday the chairman, the Hon. J. Bare, referring to 'the recent accident, said jbe had received notice of 45 persons who had been injured. Unfortunately, one Bad died, bat he was glad to say that the others, except one, were not in a condition which might be deemed serious.. Two children, Betty Matthews and Olive Needham, still were causing some anxiety, but according to latest deports they were improving. An inspection of the scene was made immediately aftea: the accident, and 1 nothing wrong could be found with the cails, while the surface had been top-dressed and tarred and macadamised. This made the cause of the .'car going off the rails all the more obscure. The trailer was in exceptionally good order. He had had careful inquiries made into the condition of the trader, and the engineer (Mr E. P. Turner) had submitted the following reports—" Thia is a, doublo-deck trailer of the old type taken oyer from the Tramway Company. It has, however, been altered by fitting wrought-steel wheels, axles of greater diameter, and air brakes. A careful examina-tion-shows the axles to be true and the wheels and flanges in good order. This trailer was overhauled on the 7th of thia month, and the workshops report reads as followsßearings examined and oiled, bolts tightened, wheels O.K.' I have instructed that, the trailer bo left in its present condition ia the meantime. On the day following the accident Mr Facr, of the Publio Works Department, in company with myself, inspected both permanent way and trailer, and Mr Farr expressed himself satisfied with their condition-" The report further stated

that 'Mr Turner, in company -with Mr . M'Lennan, had made a careful examination of the track at the scene of the accident, ■ and could find nothing -wrong with, the track ■or permanent way. The points were in firstclass,condition and trne to gauge. Hie permanent way had recently been lifted and repacked, and was in good condition. Nothing had .been done to the points or track since, and'all cars had passed without any diffi- ■ cultv whatever. Immediately after the accident, continued . Mr Barr, a notification was forwarded to the Publio Works Department in Wellington, and a notification to the Pnblio Works Department in Christehurch. He next morning Mr Fatr, the second ,in charge, went . with Mr Turner and examined the place ot tho accident and also the car. Mr Farr . expressed the opinion that he was satisfied with ; the condition of the car and the tracks. • That' afternoon another examination was being made by the gentleman in charge of tho Publio Works Department in Christ- . church, who bad returned to town. The day following the accident there was a departmental rinquiry, but it produced nothing to show why the trailer jumped the points.