LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1930, Page 8

LEVEL CROSSING FATALITY

DEATH OF P. AND T. EMPLOYEE. LOBBY AND TRAIN COLLIDES. A verdict that death was due to i'n- ; juries received when a motor lorry he . was driving came into collision with the i engine of train No. 525 at a level crossing in Stratford about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of September 23, no blame being attachable to the engine-driver, was returned by the coroner, Air. W. L. Kennedy, at Stratford yesterday after hearing evidence relative to .the death of AVilliam Louis Wells, an employee of the Post and Telegaph Department. Wells died in hospital from extensive head injuries received in the collision. At the close of the inquest the coroner conveyed the court’s sympathy to the widow and six children. Sergeant J. Power conducted the inquest, Air. J. S. Scoullar being present in the interests of the Kailway Department. Mark Comber, engine-driver of Hawera, who piloted the 1.50 p.m. train from New Plymouth to Wanganui, said he was travelling at the scheduled time and at the usual speed of from 25 to 30 miles per hour on approaching the Borneo Street crossing. He gave the usual signals, but when within about 30 yards of the crossing he .noticed the lorry coming towards the crossing from the direction of Broadway. He immediately applied the breaks, but was unable to stop the train until about 50 yards nad been travelled. The engine meanwhile struck the lorry square on, but slightly towards the rear, throwing the vehicle against a power pole nearby. Witness said he ran back to the scene of the accident and saw Wells lying on the left hand side of the cattle stop. With the assistance of three or four others who had been attracted by the smash, he lifted Wells to another lorry <tnd saw him depart for the hospital. Sergeant Powe: Is there a compulsory stop at this particular crossing? Witness: Yes. Sergeant Power: Can you say whether the vision of anyone approaching from the direction in which \\ .dis was travelling would be obscured at all?. Witness: Yes, there is a small cutting, also some trees. GENERAL ITEMS. The committee set up in Stratford to open a subscription list for the Lance V. Gibson memorial fund reports that £l3O has been donated to date. The Stratford post office clock stopped about 7.45 yesterday morning, but was re-started by 9.45. The stoppage was caused by thickening of oil. which is liable to happen with a clock so exposed to the cold. With entries comparing very favourably with those of last year, and all preparations completed the indications are that the spring Hower show to be held in the Town Hall to-morrow by the Stratford Horticultural Society will merit the attention of all to whom flowers are more than a name. Afternoon tea will be available at the show and there will be a guessing competition for a cake donated by Mrs. E. H. Young. Owing to a radiator being accidentally placed too near a table leg a small fire broke out last night in the offices occupied by Mr. A. MeMullian: The lire was extinguished before any appreciable damage was done. KAPONGA PLUNKET SOCIETY./ / The report of the Plunket nurse Submitted to the quarterly meeting of the Kaponga Plunket Society stated that the number of babies under supervision was 127 and of older children t>9. The number of visits paid to homes by the nurse totalled 38. The nurse visited the hospital on each Plunket Day. The society held a street stall on Friday and good business was done. The stall was conducted by Mesdames Ab- ( hott and Hessell in the forenoon and c Alesdames D. Fitzgerald and Gallagher ] during the afternoon. Business was f brisk, and the receipts amounted to s £lO 3s. t A competition for a box of chocolates, j. donated by Mrs. Tonkin, was won by c Ah'. R. Jefcoate. A dinner was won by Air. Noel Gardner.