The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1896.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10602, 30 April 1896, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1896.

Outy a few months ago we had to chronicle a serious accident on tho railway line near Tariki, which resulted in considerable damage to the permanent way and rolling stock, and but for a fortunate circumstance might have caused 'loss of life. A week or two ago an almost similar accidehfc occurred oh the Hawke'e Bay line» again by good fortune without loss of life. On both occasions the mishap was caused through cattiej btraying on tbe line. On Tbeßday night another narrow eßcajAe lrb\n.'a Vnty nerrotts Accident Occurred neat El'tbam, the Biif in'e di "the train from New Plytivo'iith %o Hawera becoming derailed through running into horses which were straying on the line. On this occasion the damage was comparatively trifling, but had the driver not been able to pull np the moment ho did it is quite pci-nble that the train wonld nave been precipitated into the river, and a number of lives lost. These collision^ with slray animals are far too frequent, to be pleasant^ and people Will (Toon bo »f raid to travel in the dark unless sokhe BtepS are tatan to minimise the danger. We are assured that it is an almost daily occurrence on some part of tlie line for the train to run into cattle or, horfefeb. Usually the sinltnal comes ft# Bttohd' best, but soiVie xl&y htitnan life will lie sacrificed) &ncl then porhaps steps will be taken to fence tho line. If only as a measure of economy, surely it would p(^ the nntlmrities to do thisneVeg>tery w«rk, for the damage ifc«e lolhe cuttings and embairV>y>i'.i V ii, not to mention the occaviV.Yial capsizing of an engine and the •••■l p'ling of a few trucks, by stray .mulj iuu.it amount to a very considerable sum in a year. More strict enforce;ment of the bye-laws «fl to trespass is ftlso required-. Wto &% mi that in some part's '6i the line, where it is fenced, cattle are deliberately turned on to the line for the sake of the grass growing alongside, and if the owner is a favoured individual no steps are taken to punish the offence. Such a state of affairs should not be allowed. There is another matter we should like to draw attention to in connection with Tuesday night's accident, that is, the unreasonable delay to which the passengers on the through train were subjpctcd. Instead of reaching New Plymouth at half-past nine, the train did not arrive here till half-past one, and we believe that, but for the absurd departmental rule that requires everything to bo referred to Wanganui, the passengers might have been transferred atid brought into New Plymouth at least two hours earlier than they weVev tn %ueh ah emergency as ttto tine tinder notice, some extended power should bo given to the local authorities. _♦ M»G. F. Richardson, late member for Mataura,and Minister for Lands in Sir Harry Atkinson's last Ministry, has issued a circular in which he defines what he considers necessary political reforms, The chief planks in his platform are purification of the civil service by Commission ; the re-institution of the sinking fund system in colonial loans ; loan conversion with absolute seourity as to sinking funds ; conversion of locul bodies loans; prompt publication of public accounts; decentralisation of local government ; more ' assistance to volunteers ; revision of mining laws ; settlement of waste lands of the Crown before compulsory taking of private estates ; re vision of the tariff in tho direction of free trade j re vision of native land la ws ; enquiry into banking legislation. Mr Richardxon is the first prominent politician who has ventured to lay down a polioy in opposition to that of the present Government, and deserves thanks in that he has done so instead of joining in the general chorus of abuse of the Ministry of which the speeches by members of the Opposition seen to maiul/ consist. His opinions, too, are entitled to respect as he is a politician of experience, and moreover, having boen for the last three years removed from the turmoil of active political life, he is the more able to take an independent view of the colony's requirements.