RATANA INQUIRY
FURTHER EVIDENCE
(Per Press Association—Copyright)
WELLINGTON, April 27
At the Ratana derailment enquiry today, Sir F. Frazer said the Minister had extended the time within which the Board was required to report, to May 31, the driver not being sufficiently recovered to permit his making a statement to the Board.
James G. Bell, driver in charge of the train from Wanganui which passed over the scene of the derailment at 1.40 a.m., and pulled into Turakina siding to permit the excursion train to pass, said the train when it passed, was travelling at the usual speed. In the case of a train passing like that, it was impossible to distinguish the faces of the. men in the cab. On the run to Turakina, witness
encountered a light fog just out of Wanganui. It was slightly heavier going up | Fordell Bank. At the Top of Wangaehu Bank it was very heavy. That was the only patch of heavy fog. There was light fog, he thought at Wangaehu Flat. To him the. fog appeared to be | worse on the higher levels. It was patchy on the run. Witness said he was the driver of the engine partially derailed on the curve on June 1, 1936. He had not heard that as a result of an inquiry later, a conclusion was reached that some form of obstruction had been placed on the rails. "'; .
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Bibliographic details
Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1938, Page 6
Word Count
232RATANA INQUIRY Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1938, Page 6
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