STATEMENT BY ENGINEER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11253, 4 July 1922, Page 5

STATEMENT BY ENGINEER

MR C. J. McKENZIE INTERVIEWED. Mr C. J. McKenzie (acting-chief engineer to the Public Works Department), interviewed by a “Times” representative last niglit, said that he could add practically nothing to the reports already telegraphed from Shannon, and suspired to the Press by tho department. “The first two men—Maxwell (the foreman) and Butler —went into the tunnel about 7 o’clock on Sunday niglit, presumably to attend to the pump and the oil-engine that worked it (he said); but when tho alarm took place it was nearer 12 o’clock. We know that the compressor, which drives the air into the tunnel,. was not working at the time. It was under repairs, apparently, on the Sunday. Mr W. R. Miller (the assistant - engineer), together with the Birss brothers and the Graham brothers, went in to endeavour to rescue Maxwell and Butler, but were themselves overcome by the bad air, or the petrol fumes, or both.

“Of course, the whole thing is nothing like clear to us, as the two men who first went in and Mr Miller and his rescue party are all dead. We may learn more at the inquiry. Perhaps the two men who were gassed and barely got out alive may be able to throw some light on the matter. “The inspecting engineer (Mr J. Wood) and a Mines Department official (Mr Frank Read) have gone up tonight with testing apparatus to test the air in the tunnel.”