RAILWAY APPEAL CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 5

RAILWAY APPEAL CASES.

I'm: Appeal Board for the Railway Department sat at Whangarei on Thursday, to hear an appeal by John Duncan Campbell, fireman, who had been discharged for using insolent language to Inspector Lee at Hikurangi railway station on February 28. Mr. H. Eyre-Kenny, S.M., was chairman, and had with him Mr. H. Davidson, of the Railway Department accountants' staff, for the "first division New Zealand railway stall', and Mr. T. Wilson, engineer, of Palmerston North, for the second division. The appellant conducted his own case, and Mr. A. L. Beattie, locomotive superintendent, appeared for the Railway Department. Campbell called the following witnesses: —Allan Dunsmuir, porter, Hikurangi; John Murdoch, stationmaster, Hikurangi; -Alexander Basket guard, who gave evidence to the effect that they did not hear any bad language used by the appellant on February 28, but that they saw and heard Campbell and Inspector Lee having an argument. They were speaking in a high tone. The appellant then went into the box, and gave evidence' to the effect that Inspector Dee called 'him attention to the fact that the water had not been turned on the wheel on the. left side of the engine while coming from Whangarei. This was at the Kauri station. He explained to Inspector Leo that this engine could not Like a full load up-hill with the water running en the wheels. He also stated that Clarke, the engine-driver, had told him not to turn on the water unless he saw Inspector Lee about. In answer to Mr. Beattie, Campbell said he knew the rules of the service, but in this case these rules could not be carried out. He could not swear that he had ever reported this matter in writing, but he had done, so verbally. Mr. Beattie then called the following witnesses:—Stationmaster J. T. Parsons, late of the Whangarei-Hukeremii section (now of Kawakawa); Inspector Lee, Engine-driver Clarke, Fireman Ralph 0. Jones, and John Brown, chief fitter, Whangarei workshops, who gave evidence as to Campbell's conduct. Campbell then wished to call more evidence, but Judge Kenny ruled that he could not do so withoutspecial permission from the Court. Campbell stated if he could call his witnesses he could rebut what Inspector Lee and Driver Clarke had said. The ■Court ruled that they would not allow him to call any more witnesses, and the case closed. The judgment will be forwarded to the Minister for Railways. [MY TELEGRAPH.TOF.SS ASSOCIATION'.] Donkdw, Sunday. The Railway Appeal Board heard a "case in which John Morgan, a shunter, was discharged for drunkenness and insubordination. Morgan denied the charge of drunkenness, and alleged that the insubordination was provoked by the false charge of drunkenness. Much evidence was called. The Board's decision will be forwarded to the Minister for Railways.