THE ROTORUA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9008, 15 August 1907, Page 1

THE ROTORUA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

. — ■ [Put Press Association .] ROTORUA, August 14. At the railway accident inquiry the evidence of the Putar uru stationmaster, R. E. Robertson, Westinghouse brake expert, and Constable Spellman was taken. Taylor, driver of the first engine, re-callecl, gave further , evidence. Nothing new was elicited. The evidence was very conflicting. The engine drivers and staff declare that the brakes were put on before the engines were uncoupled. The passengers say that no braKes were applied. The jury,! after a retirement of an hour and a half, returned a verdict " That Guard Lowe cam. by his death as a result of injuries received through an accident to the Rotorua goods train on August 3, owing to the vehicles receding from the vicinity of the fortyeight mile peg when the engines were detached through the partial failure of the second engine. The evidence io too conflicting to justify the jury in arriving at a decision as to why the vehicles receded." WELLINGTON, August 14. An inquiry into the recent fatal railway accident on the AucKland-Rotorua line will open at Auckland to-mprrow week. M_ A. L. Beattie,. chief locomotive engineer, and Mr H. Buxton, chief traffic manager, will De present to give evidence. If desired, evidence will be given by Mr 5 Robertson, the expert in New Zealand for the Westinghouse Brake Company.