RAILWAY BRIDGE DANGER

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 8

RAILWAY BRIDGE DANGER

TROUBLE ON DOUGLAS SADDLE.

MOVE BY THE FARMERS’ UNION.

The dangerous nature of the Douglas Road where it is crossed by an overhead railway bridge on the Douglas Saddle engaged the attention of the Stratford executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday. It was decided to try to arrange a deputation, representatives of the union, County Council, Chamber of Commerce, Automobile Association and the settlers who use the road, to meet the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, during his visit to Taranaki this month and to show him the bridge. The matter was raised by Mr. J. Wood, who said that another accident had occurred under the bridge. The centre pier supporting the bridge so encroached on the road that it was impossible for two cars to pass abreast between the pier and the bank at the side of the road. The County Council had done all it could; but could not persuade the Railway Department to go to the expense necessary to obviate the danger. There had been three accidents under the bridge and somebody W’ould be killed there unless steps were taken to widen the road and improve the view.

A strong motion from . the executive would be of assistance to the County Council, which had already done all it could do, Mr. Bunn said.

Mr. J. W. Spence, county engineer, who attended the. meeting by request, said he submitted a plan for the removal of the central pier to the Railway Department, 'but the district engineer at Wanganui had refused to make any alterations that would mean expense for the department. As far as he could ascertain the road was there before the “The Department put the bridge there to suit its own requirements and the safety of the people using the road has ‘been jeopardised,” said the chairman (Mr. M. G. Trotter). LEVEL CROSSING MENACE. ACCIDENT AT ROMEO STREET. ' Reference to the level crossing accident at Romeo Street, Stratford, on 'Friday, when Mr. W, Harris, Govern-? ment stock inspector, was injured, was made at the meeting of the Stratford executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday, when the chairman (Mr. M. G. Trotter) asked if the executive should draw the attention of the Railway Department to the danger of the crossing. “From the direction in which Mr. Harris was coming a house obstructs the view of the 'line from the road,” said Mr. E. W. Hancock. “Air. Harris is a very good official and is one of the livest wires the Agricultural Department has,” he added. A letter of sympathy will be sent to Mr. Harris.

ACTIVITIES AT STRATFORD.

COUNTRY NEEDS REPRESENTATION

Mention of the fact that the Stratford Chamber of Commerce would welcome a representative of the Farmers’ Union on its council caused Mr. E. Marfell, at the Stratford executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday, to suggest that such representation was highly desirable in order that the country districts would have some say in matters pertaining to farmers’ interests in tha town.

“There is a tendency at Stratford for certain things to bo done that will be to the detriment of country people,” Mr. Marfell stated. “For- instance, the arrangement off stock routes is not convenient, while I consider that to shift the saleyards, as is proposed, would be a great mistake,” he said. “The town would certainly suffer through shifting the yards,” continued Mr. H. J. Marchant.

Mr. E. W. Hancock: They are driving business from the town.

“Certain people want to have the town up to date,” Mr. Marfell- said.

FOUND DEAD IN WHARE.

RESIDENT OF ELTHAM. Thomas Thompson was found dead in his wharo in Collingwood Street, Eltham, on Saturday. He was last seen alive at about 5.30 p.m. on Friday, when his tenant, Raymond Kennedy, hearing the old man. coughing at the shack, went to investigate. Mr. Thompson said he was not feeling well. He asked Mr. Kennedy to get him a cup of tea. Mr. Kennedy did so and then left, having promised Mr. Thompson that he would look in in the morning. In the morning Mr. Kennedy went to the whore and on finding the door locked, and receiving no reply to his knock, sent for the police. Constable Townsend found Mr. Thompson lying on the floor, having apparently fallen from his bed.

Mr. Thompson, who suffered under the disability oif the loss of an arm, was well known at Eltham, where he had resided for many years. For a long time he sold papers on the train. In the early days he carried the mail from Waitara to Mokau, packing it with remarkable skill and reliability (especially considering his physical handicap) over the rough bush tracks. He s survived by a large adult family, and his wife who resides at New Plymouth. At the inquest yesterday the coroner, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, returned a verdict in accordance with evidence given by Dr. Saunders that Thompson died as the result of heart failure caused by the disintegration of the heart muscles. A neighbour, Aymond Kennedy, who had formed a habit of keeping an eye on Thompson’s welfare, said he last saw Mr. Thompson alive on Friday evening. He failed to see his friend on Saturday morning and looked for him about the town. Later becoming alarmed, he communicated with Mr. T. B. Crump and with the aid of Constable Townend gained entry to the whare by breaking down the door. There they found Thompson’s body, he having, apparently fallen from his bed. This witness said Thompson had complained of ill-health for a long time. Thompson's step-son, John L. Power, blacksmith of Okato, identified the body and told the court that Thompson had been living apart from his wife about 12 months. She was living, at New Plymouth. Thompson has two sons and five daughters all grown up and scattered but one daughter, who died recently at Inglewood.