A PUBLIC INQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8850, 29 May 1914, Page 4

A PUBLIC INQUIRY.

MAY NOT BE NECESSARY. ■WELLINGTON, May 28. * •" Tho Railway Department has decided to leave the usual departmental inquiry until after tho inquest- on the victijiis in the Main Trunk disaster. IvSr f;. A. Piper, traffic superintendent for <ho North Island, will represent the" Department at the inquest. Mr M. J. Jack, general secretary of tho Amalgamated Society of Ra.ilwayiuen, leaves to-night for Frankton to represent some of*-the railwaymen concerned m tho accidont. The Minister of Railways states that it might be unnecessary to hold a public inquiry, other than the inquest. This point wifl bo decided after tiio ; inquest. PROGRESS OF THE INJURED. I AUCKLAND, May 28. j Satisfactory progress was reported I to-night in regard to all tho passengers ! who were only slightly injured in tho i railway dmaster at Whangamarino. I The nervous shock caused by their ■ terrible experience in tho wrecked j sleeping car was modified for soina j hours by their excitement, but' th» I four passengers who saffercd most had ! all developed symptoms of severe, shock ■ to-day. Those- who escaped physical 1 injury were also virtually prostrated.

The condition of Mr Goldingham was slightly improved. Ha was able to sleop for about three hours during the night, but he is suffering from severe nervous shock, and will be confined' to bed for .••ome time. His physical injuries include, a deep wound below ihe left oyo and extensive bruising on the shoulders. ' . S.iiisfjirtory progress is being made by Mr John Swinson, of Wellington, who is « pi* lien t in the Waikato fcfospilnJ. ffis right thigh is fractured. Mi 1 Swinson Lad n fairly good night. Mr U. H. Fox, of "Wellington." is a patient it: .Mount Pleasant Hospital. He is siiflVrintr from shock find bruis- ' ing, and hud one too dislocated. 1 To-night^ he was reported to be proI grossing iVvournbly. The physical injuries received by ilr i EL. G. Mackay, of Melbourne, were , not serious. | The porter who was in charge at I Whangainarino, Mr Willinm Donald- | son, was in the city to-day carrying | his fractured arm in a sling. He is I suffering also from very general bruising, us lie was thrown off the point* lever as though from a catapult.