ONGARUE INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 18332, 20 July 1923, Page 9

ONGARUE INQUIRY

COMMISSION ON THE SCENE.

PRECAUTIONS DESCRIBED. [Pie Uhitid Peess Association.) TAUMARUNUI, July 19. Members of tha Commission appointed to inquire into tho Ongaruo railway disaster journeyed by special train as far as Poro-o-tarao (twenty-nine miles from Taumarunui) this morning for the purpose ( of inspecting the locality where the catastrophe occurred. Dr Henderson (Assistant Director of tho Geological Branch) left tho train at Ongaruo for the purpose of making a geological examination of the ground at the scene of the accident. The party stopped at this locality on tho return journey and made a general survey of the lino and tho cutting from various angles. The party then returned to Tanraarunui. The Commission then took evidence. The Jirst witness, Thomas Mahoney, a police constable stationed at Ongarne, described how ho saw tho express train pass through Ongarue about 5.45 a.m. on the day of tho accident at a fairly slow rate. Witness first heard that a fatal accident had occurred about 7 o'clock, and at once proceeded to tho scene. Witness described the sceue of the accident, and said that there was nothing to complain about concerning the treatment of the dead. There were sufficient tools for getting the injured and the dead out. It was not true that civilians were allowed to search the dead. Detectives Walsh and llevell took the papers of the dead for identification purposes. 'The train was travelling at about twenty to twenty-five miles an hour. Ho had seen the express on occasions travelling about forty miles an hour. Charles W. Turner, ganger at Ongaruo, deposed that the section of the lino on which tho accident occurred was under his supervision, and that he had to inspect this section once every day. Witness inspected tho line on the day prior toi tho accident, and passed the spot where the slip occurred four times. The line seemed to be in good order, and there was no more water than usual. Witncs's instructed his leading man to inspect the lino on the day of tho accjdent. Witness had not seen anything in this particular cutting which required special attention. There was a small slip in the cutting last October. There had been very little trouble, on this section of, tho line. Witness saw tho express on the morning of the accident, and it seemed to be going very steadily. Describing the sceue of the accident, witness said that the smoko box of tho engine was off and there was mud on the lamp. Tho engine would have got through the slip but for tho boulder, which weighed about a ton. Witness did not hear any complaints ns to there being insufficient tools or ambulance appliances. To Mr Riddell: Ho would go out at night if a slip were threatening.

To Mr Marchbanks; Witness made his inspection during the day, and had never had any occasion to walk over that length at night. To Mr Sterling; Ho had had no occasion to go out on tho night of the accident. The weather had cleared, and it was a clear, frosty night. David A. Robb, inspector of permanent way, stationed at Ohakunc, said that he had inspected tho length where tho accident occurred every week. That was tho general custom. He regarded this Section of tho line as one of tho safest. To Mr Marchbanks; On this section of the line he did not consider it necessary to go out at night. Joseph Blacker stated that he had been on the permanent way for eighteen years. At the time of the accident has was acting as inspector and was stationed at Ohaupo. He arrived on Jhe scene of the accident about 12.30 p.m., and made an inspection of Witness had never had anything to complain about concerning Turner’s work, and Turner was a conscientious and reliable man. Witness had seen the line at this point in bad weather, and did not regard it as a bad section.

George Alfred Rayson, inspector of permanent way, Te Kuiti, said that tho Ongarue section of the lino was "one of tho safest in his district. There had been a small slip there in October last, but only a small pocket of pumice slipped, and witness could rely on Turner’s judgment.

To Mr Marchbanks: There was a am siderablo amount of patrolling done during stormy weather, and trains were signalled if necessary.

Sidney J. G. Holmes, overseer of the Public Works Department at Okahukura, said that ha put fifteen men with tools aboard the first relief train going to tho scene of the accident, and witness went with more tools by the second train. He considered that the big boulder caused the derailment. Witness saw no shortage of material, and the dead were promptly treated. Tho headlight of the engine was covered with mud.

To Mr Marchbanks: The mud on tho headlight must have come from the slip. Alfred E, Jackson, porter at Ongaruo, gave evidence as to ringing up Taunt arunui for assistance immediately he was informed of the accident. To Mr Riddell: The headlight of the engine was shining brightly as the express passed through Ongarne. Herbert M. Smith, stationmastor at Ongarue, gave evidence as to sending for assistance immediately he heard of tho accident. Witness considered that there were too many at tho scene of tho accident to work in the limited space. Robert S. Cochrane, assistant relieving officer at Tanrnarumii station, who was a passenger on the wrecked train, gave evidence as to proceeding to Ongarue to inform tho porter at the station of tho accident.

Arthur K. Dyne, who was relieving at Taumammii station on the day of the accident, gave evidence concerning ilia quick despatch of relief trains to Iho scone of tho disaster, ami also to ringing up Waimiha, Poro-o-taroa, Taringamoln. and Okahukura for gangs to go out. The first train arrived at the slip between 7.20 and 7.25 a.m. Witness described how ho arranged for the removal of tho dead and tho injured. Tho first relief train .left tho scene of tho accident for

Taumarunui at 8.45 a.m. The treatment of the injured was not delayed by the Railway Department. „ At this stage the inquiry was adjourned.

MAIN TRUNK DRIVERS.

DANGEROUS WORK. [From Ouh Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 19. In declining ta consider a suggestion from Mr Glenn (Rangitikei) that ho take into consideration the granting to engine drivers and firemen on tho Main Trunk lino of an extra allowance while engaged upon specially dangerous'work, the iron, J. 6. Coates (Minister of Railways) stated that the exigencies of the railway service necessitated* trains being run on all the main lines throughout tho country during any portion of the day or night. Conditions similar to those obtaining on the Main Trunk were to bo found in other parts of the dominion and on both the North and South Island Main Tnmk lines It would therefore bo . invidious to mako a distinction in favor of tho men running night trains on any one section of the railways.

Mr Dickson (Parnell), commenting upon tho Minister’s reply, said that there were very few first-class drivers on the Main Trunk express engines, because tho barrier was so great. Only 25 por cent, of engine drivers were allowed into tire first class, and consequently tho men wore 100 old for the nosition, and their nerves wore too much strained for them to drive the Main Trunk expresses when they got to tin first grade-. That barrier was tho only question that was causing dissatisfaction so far as tho Engineers’ Association was concerned. When ho had represented that association in tho Arbitration Court the principal fight, was on that matter, but they did not got it removed. He hoped the Minister would consider tho necessity for doing away with the barrier, and thereby allow men, after experience and qualification, to bo promoted into the first-class grade, so securing the higher wages. .Mr Field remarked during tho discussion that tho reply was disappointing. These men took their lives in their hands, and thoir responsibility ought to do better recognised.