ONGARUE DISASTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9573, 26 July 1923, Page 5

ONGARUE DISASTER

EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. SET HEADLIGHTS ON ENGINE. i TAUMARUNUI, July 25. The Ongarue railway smash inquiry was continued to-day. John Walsh, detective, of Wellington, said he made a cursory search of the bodies for the purpose of identification. Police-Sergeant O’Brien, of Tauniarunui, gave evidence that he supervised the removal of the injured on "arrival at the station and later the removal of the dead to temporary quarters. Afterwards the police . and some civilians whom ho asked searched the bodies. The property of the deceased. persons was taken from the bodies and put in sealed envelopes. Most of this property had been restored to relatives. William Robert Davidson, district railway engineer in charge of the Frankton-M'arton section of the line, produced plans of the- scene of the accident and photographs of the smash. Witness did not consider the boulder came from a small slip that occurred in October. ,Bv regulation a driver would be limited to a speed not exceeding thirty miles an hour over tins' portion of the track at night. A driver’s view on this curve would only be about 25 yards, on account of the headlights being set. The- Coroner: Would it not be possible for the lights to swing- on curves the same as a motor-car’s. Air. Sterling, for the Railway Department, said he would call evidence on this matter later. William Robert Davidson continuing liis evidence, said there was no record of any boulder having fallen on this section of the line previously. Ernest E. Gillon, chief mechanical engineer of the New Zealand Railways, gave evidence that the Depart-* meat had been looking into the question of engine headlights for. some years, and had been in communication with many makers with a view of ascertaining whether a, light that could track with the bogey could be obtained. They had not been successful, however, in getting anything suitable. An American headlight with a different arrangement of mirrors was also tried, but it was no better than what was previously used. Henry P. Hobson, guard of the wrecked train, produced a copy of the evidence he gave before the Commission of Enquiry. The evidence of Alexander S. Stewart, driver of the train and William Fredtrick Campbell, fireman, which was also heard before the Commission, was produced. The Coroner said that so far Ins verdict would be that the cause of death of those killed in the smash was accidental. He preferred to reserve; any remarks upon the matter until lie had had an opportunity of reviewing the evidence heard at* the inquest. He considered no ordinary ; foresight could have averted the acliclent.—P.A. LIGHT CARRIAGES BETWEEN HEAVY ONES. SYDNEY THEORY OF CAUSE OF CASUALTIES. (Received Julv 25, 8.35 p-.m.j SYDNEY, July 25. A newspaper correspondent ' makes .he recent New Zealand railway disaster the theme of a letter it'gmg the discontinuance of the practice of coupling light carriages betvccii heavy ones, and says he would rot be surprised if the casualties in be New Zealand disaster were largcy due to this defect in administrai ui.—U. P.A. '