ONGARUE DISASTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 2

ONGARUE DISASTER

ENGINE DRIVER’S EVIDENCE

(i-'er Press Association.; AUCKLAND, July 22. At the Ongarue disaster inquiry, H. R. Mackenzie (chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board) said that everything possible was done to forward the uninjured passengers after the accident. Henry Percy ITollson, guard on the tram, said that the. speed was between. 20 ami 25 miles an hour. There were sullicient tools to keep all going until the relief train arrived. When undamaged carriages were, taken back to Ongarue, it was necessary to pump up the cylinders to release the brakes, showing that they were still holding three hours after the impact. He was going to suggest to the Department that the break-down tool set in the vans should bq duplicated. Ihe evidence of the engine-driver Alex E. Stewart, was taken at his residence, as he was not lit to appear. He stated the, brakes were tested at Parootarao, and were satisfactory. The train passed Ongarue at 25 miles an hour. Then he shut off steam, and drifted along at about 20 miles an hour, but the speed might have increased to 30 miles an hour by tho lime tho engine struck the slip. The headlight was burning well. He did not see anything before running into the slip. He applied the brake, immediately the engine appeared to strike a. heavy stone. Hy was tossed about. Alter travelling some, distance the engine was thrown into ihe. bank. Witness was struck: on tho head and rendered unconscious. The door of the smoke box must have been struck by a large stone in passing. TJiq witness km w the line as well as the best., lie had been running on it. fur years. Ho did not regard this part as dangerous. He knew other places which were morn dangerous, and when coming to dangerous parts took extra precautions, lie did not consider there was any necessity to do so here. His impression was that the slip came down immediately before the train came along. He thought the vibration of the tram had a great, deal Io do with the slip coming down. The inquiry was adjournqd to Wellington sine die,.