ROTORUA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 3

ROTORUA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

THE MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

(Per United Pbess Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 29. Robort Simpson, car inspector, stated that ho raiulo a careful examination of the wreck. The Westinghouee brakes were on four of Iho waggons, hut thoy wcro not on by pressure of air. In no other waggons >verc the Wostinghoueo brakes on. Hand brakes wcro not on any of the waggons. The hand brako on tho loadine van had been applied, but not very hard. The hand brako had boon put very hard on the passenger car, , and-in the ran tho brako was smashed. Other hr.nd brakes micht have been applied and-conic off whon tho train rolled down tlio incline. Ho could not. form any conclusivo opinion as to the condition of tho brakes when tho train got away. Two of, tho trainmen stated that Maori children wero in the habit of entering the trucks and carriages at Ng&tira, and there was sotoo danger of or cocks boing shifted by them. The witnesses included William Crombie shtionmastcr at Auckland, who detailed the custom followed in regard to the examina-

tion of Westinghouae brakes on a. train by »n examiner before trains were despatched from a station. A leakage in a tube could, ho Bai<], be easily detected. After further formal evidence the inquiry was adjourned.