The Recent Collision. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 36

The Recent Collision. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — It may be thought bad form to questfon_ the decision of the Railway department; in con* neotion with tbe accident at Wniwero. The inquiry was olesed to all exemts the officers of the department. A« far as I know, not a pas-Si-nger was asked a question. Regarding the decision of tho oourt on tfce eondust of the officers at Clinton and B&U4utita I have nothing to say ; bat, speaking on behaH of the meu whose lives were saved that night, I unhesitatingly aaasrt that we all feel th*t Guard Hughes aud his driver saved our lives ; why, therefore, they are ~"oi*iaiiwd and pamfeed pastes my comprehension. Front wbas I can learn in connection with the inquiry I understand that a circular oontnirtfog lfistrantions to pass th« escur*i.jn t<r&i>> at. Waiver* should have b«in given to Gu*r <l Hugh«fi at ClTafcon and Bilclutha railway stations. No inch circular was given. At . Waiwera Hughes wondered where the other train was. He tried to find out, but there was no connection by telephone between Wafwera and Clinton at fcfeafc hour. This iv itself indicates the little attention gireu to detail * by the department. Neither is there any telephonic connection with the Clinton railway station from anywhere after 5 o'clock. In the absence of all instructions Hughes and his driver decided to go on slowly, ke«ph»{ a keen look-out. l Suddenly the excursion train appr^ared only 70; ds away. Like heroes thesa two men stack to their post- and averted a catastrophe wh'ch w<>uld have surpa«e«d tbe Bruimerton disaster ; and what is their reward F Disrfkis->al ! and on weak grouade ? We are told that if they had shewn m anxiety, but had ' driven blindly on and smashed as all up, no fault could have been found, because they had done their work lik* natchine*. A rale, we are told, exists, r&quiring mn when ia doubt' to pilot their train by Walking 200 yds ahead, dangling a lantern, and that Guard Hughes should have don* thi* Now let any person place himself in the guard's powtiea, I oaonot see bow they conld act differeaUj fram what he did. Suppose, after h« left Balelutka, a wosd«r as to ttte wher&abvuU of tae excursion train bad oocarr«d, how foftliah he would have looked en bis arrival in Clinton— alter a 10 hours' walk—to be told that the train* bad been tin* d to cross at Clinton, and h« would prolmbly h*va got into great trooble abotifcH, and b«en told that when trait* ware timed to oross between B*lclatha and Clinton he would be to informed from those plaeea. I think the lew* thing that cm be doaa for the«« plucky f«U«ws w foe all the mea who were in the excursion train te subscribe a te*timonial to them.-— I am, he., April 24. Thomas Mackehzib. The Otago Land Board and how They Deal with oar ffa*te Lauds* TO TAX KBITOB. Sir, — I beg spaco in your eolnmns to make a few rcmatrks on tbe above. Your readers will remember the ourrey and subdivision of the) Hamilton run. I te* by the report of Use Land Board, held on the 15th mat., that application is again made for. sections 19 and 20, block I— the third time. All former applications were declined, but this present app'ication was referred to the ranger for report. How is it the board ara not firmer one way or the other— -decline the whole of the applications or none? Is one paity to have the. whole of the eootion after the country has to pay for survey, &o. ? Tfce tamep»rty now apply, ing has over 400 acres grouped together. When Mr John M'Ke&zte was la»t in Hyde a deputation waited on him re sections, and he disticcfcly said thoie who had only small areas of from six to nine acres and upwards could get - a section in the same block to increase their areas. Now, Sir, it appears that those who have the most land can get more when they look for it. An instance to show t Au old resident here, with 11 in his family, who oould only get nine acres at survey time on account of elese residence, applied for 'a small section cf three acres alongside of nia nine acres. It suits no one olte, as it in tho only section available. He was refuned, and his application declined. I know perfectly well that it is the wish of the Hon. John M'K«nzi« that every one of us should get land where available amongst us, not to let one party go in and grapple the whole lot of sections. ' ou6 it is a fact that these who bold large areas of land hers in this part' of Maniototo can get more when they choose to look for more, and tfcote tbat have but a garden plot can get no, more— a matter well known herein tibia district. Now, Sir, who i* to bluae for such defective administration P Not tbe Government, but the body who has to administer and has the dis* posal of our waste lands. One applicant has a right to be considered as well as another; — I am, fee, Hamiltons, April 20. Bksidkot Mink?.

At Gore on the 21a t» Tufcurau resident named, Duncan Ferguson was committed foe frtTJi faf ttMmntiait to Qoauoib suicide.