RAKAUROA FATALITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16498, 2 August 1924, Page 7

RAKAUROA FATALITY.

DEATH OF MR G. H. WILLIAMS. The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr George Henry Williams was continued before the Corner, Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., this morning. Mr L. T. Burnard represented the relatives of the deceased. Dennis Langer, a schoolboy living at Rakauroa, said he had travelled in the .train on the night in question. He had entei’ed the train at Te Karaka and had got into a smoking carriage. In the carriage there were Mr Gordon and Mr McAllister. Mr Gordon got off at Otoko and Mr McAllister at Puha. Mr Williams had had a drink, but there had been no heavy drinking. All the men in the carirage were sober. After passing Otoko only Mr Donnelly and Mr Williame were in the carriage. They had gone out on to the platform, and Mr Donnelly had come back. He had not seen ilr Williams after that. Witness left the train at Rakauroa. He was met by some friends, and had gone down the line .towards his home. In doing so lie crossed the viaduct and heard groaning. He went back to Mr Butler’s store and) got a lamp. He then returned and found Mr Williams lying in the middle of the . road under the viaduct. He did not remember Mr Williams saying anything. People sometimes left the train near the viaduct, and he had seen people do this. He had never seen Mr. Williams jump off the trait! while it was in motion. , w William Henry Donnelly, a Waikohu .. County Council,*employee living at Te Karqkn, depend that he was a passenger in the train going north on the night in question. He had boarded the train at Otoko. He had seen Mr Williams and had had a conversation with him. Mr Williams was in his normal state, and was sober. He had not seen any drinking on the way up. They had gone out on to the platform when the train was passing the churchyard on the town side of Rakauroa. They had returned to the carriage together. He saw deceased go out on to the platform when the train was passing Halket’s store. Williams had said, “We have passed Halkett’s store and we are near our destination.” He then went out on to the platform. The train was then not far from the viaduct. The deceased had no heavy parcels. Witness had not seen him again until afterwards, when he had seen him under the viaduct. When they, were on the platform together he believed the gates were closed, but he could not be certain. When witness had seen Williams later the latter had not said how the accident had happened, but had said, “Oh, my back.” Witness had' assisted in carrying the injured man to the store, and had been with him until the nurse had arrived. Mr Williams had been conscious all the time, but had given iio Indication as to what had happened. Thomas Langer, residing at Rakauroa, said he had met his brother on the night of the 29th, and had walked with him back towards the viaduct. He had heard the groaning under the viaduct, and he had gone to the store, and got assistance to carry deceased to the store. Deceased had not spoken then, but had merely groaned. Witness had, assisted to carry him to the store, and Mr Williams had asked; him to help hiin to get up. i Williams had said, “OR, my back!” He thought Williams lived on the east side of Rakauroa, and on his road home he would pass the viaduct. He had seen people get off the train while it was in motion opposite .Halkett’s store, but not near the viaduct. The distance from Ilalkett’s store (which is on the Gisborne side of the viaduct) to the viaduct was over four chains. People with heavy parcels sometimes dropped them there, went; on. to thd station, and then came back to get "them. John Grace, living with his father at Rakauroa., gave evidence of having gone back, with the Langer brothers, and having gone with them over the viaduct. They had found Williams lying under the viaduct near the Gisborne end. Witness asked him if he had fallen off the bridge, but had only received a groan in answer. The viaduct was about 50 feet above the roadway. Deceased had not said iow he happened to be on the roadway. Witness had assisted to carry him to the store and Williams had been perfectly sober. It whs dark at the time and they could not see without a light. ' Mr Butfnard : When you asked Mr Williams if he had fallen off the. bridge you thought it was the most'likely explanation ?t—Yes. In order to get to the Rakauroa station he ivould have to cross the viaduct?—Yes. In witness’ .opinion deceased had tried 10 get, off the train at Halkett’s store. William John Rowe, a guard at the station at Rakauroa, stated that he had been in charge of the tjrain in question. He had seen Mr Donnelly. The train was due to leave Rakauroa at 7.30. He did not know Mr Williams. After passing Otoko on the up grade the train had averaged between 10 and 11 miles; the train had been a medium heavy one. The distance from Halkett’s store to the viaduct was about 100 yards—a steep grade. The speed on this grade never exceeded five or six miles an hour,, and was frequently slower. The< distance from the viaduct to the Rakauroa station was, 31 chains. He had never seen passengers leaving the train when it was in motion on that part. The night had been very dark, and there had been lights in all the carriages. The platform gates had been closed. After passing Otoko he had gone light through the train ticket taking. It was part of his dutv to see the gates were closed. Mr Truman (representing the Railway Department): Have you ever seen any passenger on any train get off when going up that grade ?—No. Have you ever heard anyone say it wa? a practice to do so?—No. Witness said if anyone had done, so he would have reported the matter. Going up the grade they had a fairly light engine, but there would have been no jerking. Dolores Macdonald, a district nurse at Matawai, said she had been called to Halkett’s store at about 10 o’clock. De ceased was on a stretcher in the store and was semi-conscious. She had examined him. He had a compound fracture of both legs. She had got' into touch with Dr Bowie, and, had followed the directions given by him. There had appeared no hope for deceased. The Coroner found*that, deceased had been killed l bv accidentally falling off the viaduct, but there was no evidence to show how the accident had occnrrrt, No blame was attachable to the Railway Department.