KATANA INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1938, Page 6

KATANA INQUIRY

EVIDENCE BY PASSENGERS'

(Per Press Association —Copyright)

WELLINGTON, June 15. Further evidence on the speed or

the Wellington--'*ew Plymouth excursion (ram which was on aned iu . a cutting near Katana on ruurcii 20, was

given .u Wellington tins aiieinoon i#o-

ioro the board of inquiry set up to investigate tiie cause of tt.e msaster. There was nothing exceptional about the running of ine tram lix-ni iuraKina to the point of derailment, said Harry William Bush, a leading fitter lor the Railways Department on tne Wellington who boarueJ tiie excursion tram at AJLarton. He said tiie speed along the Katana fi.it was normal. There was a si.gnt application of the brakes as though too umer was easing up. He inu not consiuer this application aas uecausc of the snapping qI the \\ escmgnouoo uraiie hose. iu -vir u. G. Watson, witness said that witfim reason lie knew every curve anu eery mil on tne section oi tne line, and he knew the curve near Katana. To him the speed appear'd* normal. fur W’atson; If the train had been rusnmg at an excessive speed towaru this cave you uomd iia.e noticed icf Witness; Undoubtedly.

auu tne appi.cation of the brakes was consistent with a normal approach to the curve:-' —\es. Harry Arthur Jones, a casual platelayer lor the New Zealand Kailways, lailiape, who also joined the train at Marton, said lie was a passenger In the first ear, anu considered the speed nothing out of tne ordinary. \\ hen passing the Katana station the tram uas easing down. Two or three seconds beiore the accident the brakes were applied. Cross-examined by Mr Watson, witness said he was born in the district, and knew every inch of the line. in his opinion the train nas travelling at 25 miles an hour when approaching the curve.

Suggestions of previous witnesses when giving evidence before the Board as to the Katana railway accident, that a third man, other than the driver and fireman, had travelled on the locomotive were discounted at the inquiry to-day. It had been suggested that a man wearing dungarees aim known as “Mac” had ridden on the footplate, but, after hearing the evidence of E. A. Lee, the chairman Sir Francis Fraser, said he was satisfied that there was nothing in the rumour. A man who travelled in the second car said that it was tho roughest and fastest ride he had ever experienced on a train

The next witness, a woman who occupied a seat in the loading cat said that dp to w fWe’ sTtme''MU'The‘"accident she had thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

AVilliam Nixon said that lie had been unable to read owing t 0 the jolting and swaying of. the carriage. It was the roughest and fastest ride he had ever on a train. The speed was from 45 to 50 miles an hour. Two minutes before the accident, the carriages had swayed over, and his .wife had said: “My God, we’re over.” He heard three short whistle blasts just before the crash.

Another passenger, Airs Elsa Haulage, said that there appeared to be nothing unusual in the running of the train, even during the last lew moments before the smash.

The inquest was adjourned this afternoon, aud will be resumed at 2.15 p.m. on Monday, Tiie evidence of Driver E. Percival will be heard next week. He will be called by the Board, and counsel on both sides will ha.e right of cross-examination if they wish.

Air G. G. Watson, who is appearing for Percival } submitted that driver should be called by the Delike every other railway employee who had given evidence. It would be unfair, lie said, if the driver were singled out for cross-examination by the Department. AJr H. if. O’Leary, K.C., asked how it would be possible to present the driver as witness for the Department. The Department had already called witnesses to show that the train went off the rails at a speed of 50 miles an hour. . 'l'he guard of the train was not a Departmental witness. He had been called hy the Board. Mr Watson held that it would be unfair for the driver to be the only railway employee cross-examined bv the Department. “The driver is in no way reluctant to give evidence,” said Air Watson. ‘‘He will willingly make a lull and complete statement.” The chairman intimated that the driver would be called at the. direction. of the Board, who would ask him sufficient questions to enable him to toll what happened. “We shall leave it to both counsel to get any other information, they require,” the chairman added, y