Ongarue Disaster

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 199, 8 August 1923, Page 3

Ongarue Disaster

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. EXPERT-EVIDENCE. Wellington, Aug. 7. The Board of Inquiry into the Ongnrue railway disaster is sitting here. Thomas William MucLean, Chief Engineer of the New Zealand railways, gave evidence. To Mr. Marshbanks: Witness said ho looked upon the section south of Mataroa to Mangaweka as a specially dangerous zone. Petrol velocipedes had not proved efficient. The man who was patrolling was provided with a lamp and could signal to the driver of a train where necessary. Wherever it wns considered there was a liability to slip or wash-out a precautionary measure was taken by slowing down. John Kennaway Lowe, district railway engineer for 21 years, who had been in charge of the Ohakune district from 1908 to 1914. said that the district was one of the safest, in the whole section and the spot where the accident occurred had been as safe as they could consider a cutting.

Ernest Edward Gillon. chief medianiral engineer, for 39 years in the Railway Department, gave evidence regarding the structure of cars. All (jars bad cross seats, being more comfortable for a long journey. The chances were that had they had longtitudinal seats in the cars which were telescoped they would have broken up very quickly and injured the passengers. The Department had gone very carefully into the suggestion that cars be made wholly of steel and found there were great objections. The weight would be increased by at least 40 per cent and even then he believed that at Ongarue even steel cars would have been telescoped. If so the rescue of imprisoned eers would he verv difficult. The Department had decided some time aco to equip all its cars with electric lightinc and material, for this was now being manufactured in England. ’ The Main Trunk drivers were selected and he personally had to approve the reliability of every man. The men were entitled to use their iudgment and did so. and he never had cause to complain of the manner in which a man abused the right. To Mr. Riddell: There was no difference in the construction between first and secdnd-elass carriages and very little in weight.

The commission adjourned till Fri day.