ONGARUE DISASTER.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15885, 25 July 1923, Page 4

ONGARUE DISASTER.

A DOCTOR’S EVIDENCE. ‘Press Assuei.iaou.i TAUMARUNUI, July 24. The enquiry into the circumstances of the Ongarue disaster was held yesterday. Dr. Eric Vivian described the work of the doctors at the scene of the accident. On the arrival of the train at Taumarunui Dr. Fisher suggested that witness should stay on the platform until all the injured had been removed. When this was done he went straight to the hospital and and reported to Dr. Fisher.. Witness was given no indication as to how the patients had been treated or otherwise on their arrival. At the hospital witness approached Dr. Fisher again, and later intimated that if there was nothing for him to do he would go away Land could be summoned by telephone. He was at the hospital one hour before he left and about 1 o’clock Dr. Fisher rang him up and asked his to return and bring Dr. Bathgate.. To the Coroner: He agreed with Dr. Howard that the delay was not detrimental to the injured, and he thought that any of the public who suggester that the patients suffered by reason of any delay after their admission to the hospital, had a wrong impression. When the witness returned to the hospital he received definite instructions concerning which patients to attend to. He thought more trained nurses should have been procured, although the hospital staff and volunteers did excellent work.

To Inspector Fouhy: He would not undertake attention at the hospital without Dr. • Fisher’s permission. Thomas Mahoney, a constable stationed at Ongarue, described the rescue work at the scene of the accident, and he considered everything possible was done for the injured. No irreverence was shown to the dead. The enquiry was adjourned until to-day.