LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5620, 28 May 1914, Page 4

LEVEL CROSSING ACCIDENT

DAMAGES AGAINST RAILWAY

WIDOW AWARDED £I6OO

By Telegraph. Prestt Association Christehurch, Wednesday.

An action was heard in the Supreme Court, in which Frances E. Binks, widow, of Ashley, proceeded against the King tor the sum of £2OOO, as compensation for the death of her husband, William Alexander Binks, who was killed at Rangiora, in a railway accident on September 12th, 1913. It was stated that the deceased was u carrier, 31 years of age. On the day of the accident he was driving his team of five horses along High street, Rangiora. Some high buildings and a high fence obscured his view of the railway line, and ho failed to notice the approach of a train at the crossing. Since 1884, it was stated, it had been the custom of the Department to have a erossingkeeper wave a Hag when a train approached, but on the day in question this was not done. The result was that when the. horses were on the crossing the train came in at a rapid rate, striking the lorry and carrying it into the cattle stops, Binks being killed. The semaphore signal, which was usually used, was not on this occasion lowered, it was claimed. Counsel for the plaintiff alleged that the death of Binks was due to the negligence of the Railway Department. The widow, he said, had three children, and had been deprived of her means of support. The jury awarded £ISOO damages, one-third of which was to go to the widow, and two-thirds to the children.