COLLISION AT MARTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13946, 29 April 1909, Page 2

COLLISION AT MARTON.

Per Press Association: WANGANUI, April 2$The. North Island Railway Appear Board was- occupied all day hearing- the> conclusion of the evidence in the appia] of, J.'A: Shelton against dismissal ior his connection with a collision at Martan Junction. In his evidemovSheltoft said that he was instructed by the st*-. tionmaster to go out_en the. main Une with a shunting engine. The-mafl train, was overdue, but he contended that he considered the signals would protect' him, seeing that the stationmaster had given him the orders. No sooner had the shunting engine got on to the mayi line than the mail train appeared, and collided. Other witnesses deposed to hearing the stationmaster ask Shelton if he were going out on the line. The" stationmaster to-day declared that the shunt was made without his authority, and was in direct contravention of the practice which obtained in the yard. He s*id ii was possible that Shelton had misunderstood an instruction regarding a different part of the yard. The Court reserved its decision! . James M'Gurk, driver of the shunting engine, appealed against .his • <tomissal. He said he was bound by toe regulations to obey the instructions of Shunter Shelton, tfho told him io go on the main-line. He could not see the signals, but presumed that the shunter would not order him to go into danger. The appeal is not concluded.