DEATHS
MILES. — On September 24, 1930, at Invercargill (result of an accident), Thomas William Miles, N.Z.R., beloved husband of Gladys Miles; aged 34 years. Private interment at Dunedin. — Hope and Kinaston, undertakers. -Evening Star, 25/9/1930.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late Thomas William Miles (and family) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave the Dunedin Railway Station on the arrival of the express from Invercargill (about 11.15 a.m.) on SATURDAY. 27th inst. for the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery.
HOPE AND KTNASTON, Undertakers. -Evening Star, 26/9/1930.
WYNDHAM NEWS
(From Our Correspondent.)
During the week-end, Mr E. C. Levvy, sat as District Coroner, at Wyndham to conduct the adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Thomas William Miles, which occurred at the Wyndham Railway Station on Wednesday, September 24. The preliminary stages of the inquiry had been held shortly after deceased’s death in the Southland Hospital, Invercargill, late in the evening following the accident, and the Coroner had then adjourned the proceedings so that the body might be conveyed to Dunedin for interment, and in order that the major witnesses, who were railway servants stationed at Wyndham, could appear at the minimum of inconvenience.
Charles A. Redpath, stationmaster at Wyndham, deposed that the was on duty on the date in question. Deceased was porter and acting guard at Wyndham. He had filled the latter office for 18 months, and before that was driver of the rail motor, having been located at Wyndham for four years. He had found deceased to be a careful and reliable man. Deceased had come in by the 12.1 train from Edendale, the train being due to return at 12.7. It was necessary to reverse the train, involving a slip shunt. Witness had attended the train on arrival and had gone into the office to answer a telephone call, when he was advised of the accident by the engine driver. He immediately rang up Dr Baird (Wyndham) and went to the scene of the accident, and found deceased lying between the rails seriously injured, but conscious. Deceased was lying about ten yards from the train, a double sheep truck being attached to the engine, and no one actually saw what happened. Witness went on to detail a slip shunt. The guard gave the engine driver the signals, and he rode to the points and shifted them to allow the car to run into the siding. Deceased had signalled “right away.” There was a deep dent between the rails as if one had come down heavily on one heel, this being about six feet from where the wheels had gone over deceased, who was lying 34ft. from where he was first run over.
To the Coroner: Deceased was not a qualified shunter, but had done a lot of that work, and for some time had been recommended for the position. Slip shunting was carried out at Wyndham four or five times a day to reverse the engine, and deceased was quite familiar with the operation. Witness thought there was no risk at all to one who had done so much of it. Both feet of the shunter would be set on the platform. Witness’s theory was that deceased either slipped or lost his grip.
George Samuel Frame, engine driver, Wyndham, corroborated the evidence by the previous witness. He had always found deceased capable and careful, and would never expect an accident to happen to him for want of care. Everything must have been right when he (witness) got the “right away” signal.
Constable A. H. Jones (Wyndham) also gave evidence.
The Coroner found that death was due to shock following extensive injuries to deceased’s legs and head, which injuries were received by deceased in the course of his duties as acting guard on September 24, through deceased slipping or falling from and between the carriage of the train while in the course of carrying out a slip shunt. -Southland Times, 23/10/1930.
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