ONGARUE DISASTER.

Northern Advocate, 25 July 1923, Page 5

ONGARUE DISASTER.

ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY.

EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE

TAUMARUNUI, This Day.

The inquest into the circumstances of the Ongarue disaster was continued yesterday.

Dr. Eric Vivian described the work of the doctors at the scene of the accident and on arrival of the train at Taumarunui. Dr. Fisher suggested that witness should stay on the platform until all the injured had been removed. When this was done he went straight to the hospital and reported to Dr. Fisher. Witness was given no indication as to patients who had been treated or otherwise on arrival at the hospital. Witness approached Dr. Fisher again later and intimated that if .there was nothing for him to do he would go away and could be summoned by telephone. He was at the hospital ona hour before he left. About 1 o'clock. Dr. Fisher rang him up and a3ked him to return and bring Dr. Bathgate.

To the Coroner: He agreed with Dr. Howard that the delay was not detrimental to the injured. He thought th it any of the public who suggested that tho patients suffered by reason of any delay after admission to the hospital had a wrong impression. When witness returned to the hospital he recei red definite instructions concerning which patients to attend. He thought that more trained nurses should have be?Ti procured, although the hospital stv'f and volunteers did excellent work.

To Inspector Fouhy: He would n'»t undertake attention at the hospital without Dr. Fisher's permission.

Thomas Mahoney, constable stationed at Ongaruc, described the rescue work at the scene of the accident and considered thftt everything possible was done for the injured. No irreverence was shown to the dead.

The inquiry was adjourned till today. —Press Assn.