WHANGAMARINO TRAIN SMASH

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9811, 12 June 1914, Page 2

WHANGAMARINO TRAIN SMASH

GOODS DRIVER'S EVIDENCE (Pirn Ftut AianntTTOw.l AUCKLAND, June 11. Tho inquest on the victims of the Main Trunk Railway disaster was resumed this morning. Joseph Hill, engine driver, of tho goods train, stated that when ho passed tho porter the latter was sitting on tho lever. He 6aw no light ahead. Hi 6 engine and eight wagons had gone on to the siding and 41 vehicles wore still on the main line when he saw tho head lights of the express just bevond the station building. Ho gave tho danger signal and the crash came a few seconds later. He walked to the signal lever which he found at "danger" and inspected the signal itsell which showed the full green light for all clear.

EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE SIGNALS. AUCKLAND, June 11. ~4,- thc Ma,n T ™'k ri-puster enquiry William Collew, Greman on the good; train, said ho saw the siuaal showing ? green hght after the collision. Alfred Larsen said ho also saw a groer light and the levers in the dang.-r ,nsi tion. l Joseph Spencer gave similar evidence. Witness, who is a railway carpenter, said he erected the signals, lio thought of the possibility that cold had contracted the wire, and felt the wire, which ho found quite tight. John Crowhurst, train, examiner, said the only explanation he could give of the derangement of the signalling apparatus was that the cold weather had contracted the wire. He had never known such a thing to happen before. A great deal of evidence was given by drivers of various trains in connection with the signal, which it was stated was working correctly at two o'clock in the morning. This concluded the evidence for the day. Before the enquiry adjourned Mr Reed, h.l ~ asked the Coroner if he was prepared to exonerate Stone, the driver of the' express No evidence, the Coroner said. would be called implicating Stone at all ihc Chief .Detective agreed that this was so. "As far as Stone is concerned," said the Coroner, "the matter i* at nn ond No blame is attachable to him," The enquiry was then adjourned until the morning.