THE RAKAIA DISASTER. CHRISTCHURCH, April 13.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 18

THE RAKAIA DISASTER. CHRISTCHURCH, April 13.

At the Police Court to-day Charles Henry Carter was charged with manslaughter- in. connection .with the Rakaia railway disaster. Evidence taken at the inquest on -the victims was read - over, and in the course of cross-examination F. Mather 'deposed that ho understood Carter to-say that if he had had a train's length he could have pulled up. Carter jnight have eaid a chain's length. ' ' William Keinpson, guard of the second train, deposed .to the brakes being in gopd order. A. L. Beattie, .locomotive engineer, said he had the engine, examined after the collision, and found the brakes in perfect working order. According to the times given tluß-^'pace .between CherLsey and Rakaia would be at the rate of 45 miles per hour. Seeing thai, the train had- to stop at ißakaia, andj if necessary, perhaps outside the station limits, th& pace waa excessive. The mere pace of -45, miles per hour was not .unsafe, but, in view of -the conditions under which they had to work, and according to .the, rule that -the driver , must be prepared to . come to a stand outside the 'station limits, witness considered that the pace -was , excessive and unsafe. After other -witnesses had been examined, tlu; accused reserved his defence, and was committed far trial, the bail .being renewed: