THE TRACTION ENGINE FATALITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7243, 26 August 1902, Page 3

THE TRACTION ENGINE FATALITY.

A County Council Censured for Negligence.

(By Telegraph---Press Association). Inglewood, This Day. At tho adjourned inquest on the death of Josoph Glcdhill, County traction en-gino-driver, tho jury returnod a verdict that death was caused by tho traction engine driven by deceased breaking through tho Maketawa bridge at Junc-tion-road. A ridor was added that tho County Council sbowod a certain amount of ncgligonco in not posting a notico on the bridgo that it was dangorous for traotion-ongino traffic as soon as the carpenter's report to tho offect was received. Further particulars concerning tho fatal accidont at tho Makotawa bridgo, show that the wholo structure did not collapse, but that an area of tho decking of about 10 foot by 20 foot gavo way as cloan as though it had been cut with a saw, tho engine and trucks dropping through tho broach. The lad Kennedy, who was with Mr Glcdhill at the tinio fortunately had no bones broken, but is suffering from many sovero bruises aud tho cflbcts of tho terrible shock. Ho is at present in tho Now Plymouth Hospital, and is slowly recovering. Tho bridgo whore tho accidont happened is about three miles out of Inglewood, and it is said that tho ongino crossod it safoly somo time ago. ThoManawatu Times states it is probable the Now Zealand Accidont Insurance Company will pay .GIOO -the maximum compensation—in connection with tho death of Mr Josoph Glcdhill, caused by tho traction engine accidont near Inglewood. Tho Hawora Star says: At tho inquost on tho body of Glcdhill, killed through a traction engine which ho was driving going through the flooring of a bridge near Inglewood, tho Taranaki County bridge carpenter said that deceased, witness and anothor had a conversation as to tho safoty of the bridge, deceased stating that ho did not like tho job of bringiug tho cngino across it, but that ho thought that if he laid down planks the bridgo would bo safe. Witnoss replied thatif planks worolaid and caro exorcised he also thought tho engine would get over safely. Witness examined tho bridgo on July 22nd, and reported to tho Council that it needed now joists and some now decking, also stating that the joists were not strong enough to carry a traction engine which weighod 12 or IS tons, Tho County Clerk stated that the day following tho report of tho bridgo carpenter, ho told tho carpenter to proceed with tho work when he had time. Deceased acted almost entirely without instructions, and the Council, as_ far as he could say, thought the traction engine was in inglewood. The Chairman of the County Council stated that ho instructed deceased not to take any risk of damago to the plant. After the bridge carpenter's report was read at the meeting of tho Council no steps were taken to notify persons that tho bridge was unsafe for traction engines. At the inquiry into the death of the late Mr Joseph Glcdhill, it was found impossiblo to get the evidence of the boy Kennedy, who was with Mr Glcdhill at the time of tho accident, as it is not expected he will leave the hospital for five or six weeks yet. The Sergeant of police stated that ho had seen the youth, and practically ho could tell them nothing more than they already knew. The Sergeant shortly stated what the youth said, which simply amounted to the statement that he (the youth) planked tho bridge from end to end beforo the engine started on the bridge, and that the engine did not stop on the bridge after starting.