THE MUNGAROA RAILWAY ACCIDENT. AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11347, 16 April 1900, Page 5

THE MUNGAROA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING.

DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY. [lit TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday. A departmental inquiry into the Mungaroa railway accident was held yesterday. George Smith, driver .of the wrecked train, said the engine brakes were applied as provided by the regulations. The lino was very greasy, and lie found the train sliding gradually away. He endeavoured to stop the train at the usual place to enable the waggon brakes to bo applied, but was unable to and could not understand why the van brakes did not pull him up. He whistled for brakes when halfway down the steep gradient. Ho had not done so before as the speed was nothing great. Tho maximum speed attained was not more than 25 miles her hour. It was safe to toko a train such as that on the day of the accident down the gradient if the usual precautions were taken. He had every confidence in tho guards, Barrett and Hicks, but there must have been something wrong when they did not get the brakes on. If they had done so the train could easily have been stopped. Ho thought it safe to have the guards' van in the.middle of the train, as at some of tho curves near tho vicinity of the accidonfc tho driver was unable to see the rear of tho train. He put the steam brako on and reversed the engines when he found the train slipping away. One truck jumped from the lino a milo and ahalf further on, and, after it fell on its side, tho couplings of the waggons next the engine broke, and tho whole of the trucks began to pile up. He had known slight accidents happen on the same spot on three occasions. J, G. Barrett, guard of the train, said he had applied the brakes of the van, but, finding the train did not stop, ran and let down the brakes of three waggons. This did not appear to have any effect in decreasing the speed. Ho never heard any whistle for brakes, and was not aware tho train was slipping away when ho 1 , applied brakes, but thought the driver was having difficulty in pulling up. Tho van brakes were in good order, and it was safe to bring any tram down tho hill which an engine could pull across the flat at Mungaroa. He was physically fit for work, and did not say to the last,' witness that had he been more fit for work he would have got more brakes down. He had been ill before the accident, but had had ft spell. . " , Alex. Allan, fireman, said when tho engine brako was put on at the other side of Kaitoke tho wheels skidded, but the train was going not more than four miles an hour, and there was nothing to hinder the brakesmen putting down the brakes. The driver had to shut off steam earlier than usual on tho day of the accident. ; Witness corroborated Smith's evidence, but said lie thought the loads which had been brought down lately were too heavy. He did not think it safe to have 50 waggons on with one engine, when loaded, the track was so full of curves. When steam was shut off they were half-a-mi from the top of the grade. He.hoard Barrett say if he had boen all right he could havo done something more towards stopping tho train. •\ , , ~ . Peter C. Smith, waggon inspector, said mo vehicles and brakes were in good order. John Nicklc, driver, said ho had brought 67 trucks down, and it was safe so long as the regulations were carried out.' ,' S. Hill, stationraaster at Kaitoke', said the train was moving a, little, slowor than usua when it passed Kaitoke. ._ , . A. C. Koch, district 'engineer,, said ttie scene of the accident was on a curve and a grade of one in 16. The curve was so slmi that the front end of tho hogio- carriage would be barely off one cum before the rear end was on the other. -This witness and others said the road was in good ordei. , T. Peterkin, locomotivo superintendent, said the driver should have had no difficulty in pulling up if ho had taken tho extra precautions necessary, y v ■ .■.< ■ , . The inquiry was adjourned for the evi donee of Hicks, injured guard, who is still in tho hospital, ■ lII* condition l* mft* " * '

PARTHIAN AGAIN DEFEATS | MERRIWEE. j A SURPRISE IN THE DONCASTER HANDICAP. By Telegraph—Pre»3 Association.— Copyright. Stdnet, April 14. The Australian Jockey Club opened their autumn meeting to-day at Ranuwiok, in fine weather. There was a fair attendance, but the plague at present raging'within the New South Wales borders had tho effect of keeping a good number of intercolonial visitors away. ' Odds of 7 to 4 were laid on Partisan's ability to defeat Merriwee in the St. Leger, and the son of Grand Flaneur accomplished tho feat in handsome style. A big field went to the post for the Doncaster Handicap. The favouritism shown for Sequence's chanco was maintained throughout, and tho three-year-old son of Far Niento went out at the short odds of 3to 1. He gave his backers a great run; but he had to strike his colours to Parapet, who won by the narrow margin of a head. The following are the details of the racing:-

THE FIRST HURDLE RACE, a handicap sweepstakes of ssovs each, Ift., with 200sovs added. About two miles and ahalf.

Mr. W. Daniel's b g Bega, figed, by Bargo, 9st 51b 1 Mr. J. Buckler's ch g Clipstone, aged - 9st • 2 Mr. 11. Blacklock's br g Waiter, aged i list 121b 3

Seventeen horses started. . _ Betting;: 6 to 1 Brokerage and Nor -West,, 8 to 1 Bega, 9 to 1 Clipstone and Waiter, Bega won easily. Time, 4m. 51s.

THE AUTUMN STAKES, a sweepstakes' of lOsovs each, with 400sovs added. For three-year-olds and upwards. One mile and a-half. Sir K. Clarke's b g Paul Pry, aged, by Loehiel—Busybody ... ... ... — 1 Mr. J. Sunn's br g Firy Prince, aged ... 2 Mr. 11, Wootton's br g Vocalist, 4yra... 3

Five horses started. Betting: Even on Paul Pry, 5 to 4 against Vocalist, 6 to 1 Tlio Prize, 10 to 1 others. Fairy Prince cut out the running to the sheds, where Paul Pry joined him. Paul Pry had his opponent beaten at tho St. Leger stand, and coming on, won easily. Time, 2m. 47^3.

THE TWO-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN STAKES, a sweenstakes of ssovs each, with 200sovs added. For two-year-old maiden horses. Seven furlongs. Mr. W. R. Wilson's blk g Kinglike, by Wallace-Bonnie Rosette ••• J Dudco , Lyddite Eight horses started. Betting sto 2 Lord Rudolph, 3to 1 Lyddite, 6 to 1 Kinglike. Dudeo and tho favourite fell. Kinglike won easily. Time, lm. 30s. THE DONCASTER HANDICAP, a, handicap sweepstakes of 20sovs each, with lOOOsovs added. For all horses. One mile. Messrs. 11. E. A. and V. White's br f Parapet, 4yrs, by Lochiel-Paraphrase, 7st 91b (Sixsmith) ... ... ••• ••• Mr. J. A- Mayo's bo Sequence, 3yrs, by Far Niente—Consequence, osfc bib liarMr. A. Ilooke's br g Goldsmith, 6st 121b (L. Kuhn) ••• 5 Also ran: Cabin Boy, 9st 31b; George Frederick-, Bst 111b; Tho Watch Dog, Bst 7 b, La Carabine, Bst 61b; Cremona, Bst bib; Severity, Bsfc 41b; Dandy, Bst 41b; Lang Syne Bst; Symmetry, Bat; Carberra, Bst;_ Boreas 11., 7st 121b; Bob, 7st 111b; Inquirer, 7st 91b; Sweetheart, 7st 71b; Dozon, 7st 51b, Foret, 7st 51b; Idle Boy, 7st; Alcestis, 7st, Cyanide, 7st; Meribah, &st 121b; Manganese, 6st 111b; Keyless, 6st 1111); Nambucca. 6st 101b; Chateline, 6st 71b; Tnnidad, 6st 71b. Botting: 3 to 1 against Sequence, 8 to l Lang Syne, 12 to 1 Goldsmith, 14 to 1 to 16 to 1 tho others. Tim Watch Dog was the first away, and maintained his advantage to the sheds, where Sweetheart assumed command followed by Cabin Boy, The Watch Dog, and Dandy. Three furlongs from home Lang Syne and Sequence were on tho outside? and moved up. Sweetheart was first into tho Straight, accompanied by Dandy, Idle Boy, Lang Syne, Sequence, and llio Watch Dog. At the St. Leger stand Sequence was in front, with LangSyne and Goldsmith next, with Parapet last of the next division. ■ Parapet came with a great rush 100 yds from home, and, cutting down Sequence in the last few strides, won a great race by a head, while Sequence was only separated by a neck from Goldsmith. Tim ' lm 4035. Alcestis fell near the start. THE A.J.C. ST. LEGER STAKES of 20,0 v, ' each with 300soy8. M For three-year-olds. Colts, 8b . Bst 51b; geldings allowed 31b. One mile and three-quarters. _ Mr. T. G. Muir's 1) o Parthian, by Grand Flaneur-Arch cress (Baden) ... ••• Mr 11. Power's br o Mernweo, by Bill of Portland— Weenie (Turner) ... 2 . SS wcro tho only siftrtcrs# ••««** Betting: 7 to +on Parthian, 6to < agfunst M S*Si».tti» »«»]»• *>* commenced to race at the J'«\ flnd head and head to the straight, where iar thian obtained a slight advantage. At tho q"T°r stand tho whip was out on Memwee, who cut right across tlm track, fimrfung under tho judge's box. mn y threo lengths, Time, 3m. 25 4 .. Tin? WEIGHT HANDICAP, a Ltar«»-«p shta "i s"™5"™- "ti.'.S upwards. Lowest weight, Bst /lb, dix M?R D Wooton's b g Lim.ry, 4yrs, by Far Niento— and White, 9st j M fj. Steonson's ch g' Wat Tyler,'6lb 2 Mr. A. McCracken's br m Drama, 9st 71b Mfstyn, 10 to 1 Luxury, 12 to 1 tho others. Time, lm. 16*9.

betting ON THE SYDNEY top. ULU Sydney, April 15. No heavy betting has been transacted on tho Sydney Cup. The are.the rSia^lo'loTo; a Gol" l ? ith'and Aco 100 to 9; War God and Soquonco, 100 to 8; Tho Prize and Vocalist, fancy Hi Hi and Parthian for tho Sydney Cup.