A DANGEROUS PRACTICE

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 16 July 1919, Page 2

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE

OBSTRUCTION ON THE RAILWAY

When a special train was slowly ascending a grade on a filling on the north side of Manutahi, on 'Thursday afternoon, Fireman Annabell noticed an obstruction on the line. The train was accordinglf stopped. The first obstruction consisted of two shovels, then a few yards further on four picks and several shovels and spades were laid on the rails, a pick-head being placed lengthwise on one of the rails. A little distance from this, a kerosene tin full of bolts, etc., had been piled up along the rails, and a heel-plate rested on a rail. Twenty yards further on there was a piece of rail about 3ft long and about 2ft. wide placed in such a position as to imperil the passage of wcels. A Hawera message states that as the result of inquiries made there in reference to obstructions on the railway line at Manutahi, it is alleged they were placed there by a boy about 12 years old, who ran away from homo after receiving a thrashing. It is stated that a ganger found the lad placing pick handles on the line. The polico have the matter in hand. „J