NAPIER TRAIN SMASH

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 4

NAPIER TRAIN SMASH

COMMISSION’S WORK PROCEEDINGS CONCLUDED YESTERDAY WILL REPORT TO MINISTER The commission set up by the Government to inquire into the cause of the Napier train derailment concluded its proceedings in Wellington yesterday. Mr W. G. Riddell, S,M., presided. and the members of the board with him were Messrs J.* Marchbanks and W. D. Hunt. Mr M. Myers, K.C., appeared as counsel for the Railway Department arid he was accompanied by Mr M. Dennehy, of the Departments staff Mr Riddell said that since the commission last eat the driver of the train had been convicted of manslaughter. The commission would now proceed to take any further evidence and then close the proceedings. Mr Myers did not offer any further evidence. He said that the evidence called fiv* the Crown on the prosecution of the engine-driver was the same evidence as the Department would have called had the driver not heen arrested. He proposed to hand in a copy of the notes of the evidence taken, by the associate at * the Supreme Court trial; it occurred to him that nothing more would he required. Mr Riddell: ' The position now is that the evidence taken before the Supreme Court has been put in. The commissioners are satisfied it would be waste of time and expense to recall the witnesses The commissioners will consider' the whole of the evidence/ as to tho condition of the track, the of the rolling stock ana the other evidence as regards excessive speed, and in due course report to the Minister for Railways.