ONGARUE DISASTER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16186, 24 July 1923, Page 7

ONGARUE DISASTER.

ENGINE-DRIVER'S EVIDENCE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The inquiry into the Main Trunk disaster was continued at Auckland. H. R. MacKenzie, chairman of the Auckland Harbor Board, said everything possible had been done to forward the uninjured passengers. after the accident. Henry Percy Holson, guard on the train, said it was proceeding at between 20 and 25 miles an hour. There were sufficient tools to keep all going until the relief train arrived. When the undamaged carriage® were taken back to Ongarua it was necessary to pump up the cylinders to release the brakes, showing they were still holding, three hours after the impact. He was going to suggest to the Department that the breakdown tool set in the vans should be duplicated. The evidence of the engine-driver, Alexander S. Stewart, was taken at his residence, as he was not fit to appear. The brakes, he said, were tested at Porootarara and were satisfactory. The train passed Ongarue at about 25 miles an hour, then he shut off steam and drifted along at about 20 miles an hour, but the speed might have increased to 30 miles by the time the engine struck the slip. The headlight was burning well. Ho did not sea anything before running into the slip. He applied the brakes immediately. The engine appeared to strike a heavy stone and was tossed about, and after travelling some distance was thrown into the bank. Witness was struck on the head and rendered unconscious. The door of the smoke box must have been struck by a large stone in passing. Witness knew the line as well as the best, as he had been running on it for years. He did not regard this part as dangerous. He knew other places which were more dangerous, and when coming to dangerous places he would take extra precautions. He did not consider there was any necessity to do so here. .His impression was that the slip came down'immediately before the train came along. Ho thought the vibration of the train had a great deal to do with the slip coming down. The inquiry was adjourned to Wellington sine die.