RAILWAY DISASTERS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 24 July 1923, Page 2

RAILWAY DISASTERS

INQUIRY INTO ONGARUE SMASH. FEB FBESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT AUCKLAND, Monday. The inquiry into the Alain Trunk disaster was continued in Auckland, this morning. William Harding, stationmaster, examined the tram before it left the Auckland station. Everything was in order. Janies Alackley, locomotive engineer, Auckland, replying to a question, said he did not think making, the ends of carriages solid would minimise the effects of such accidents. James Farquhar, a passenger, said the wounded were removed from the wreckage as expeditiously as possible. Everything was done to alleviate suffering. Several train examiners at stations en route said the train was in good order. H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board* said that everything possible was done to forward the uninjured passengers after the I accident. | Henry Percy Hobson, guard on the I train said the speed was between 20 ■ to 25 miles an hour. There were suffiI cient tools to keep all going until I the relief train arrived. When the ! undamaged carriages were taken back to Ongarue, it was necessary to pump up the cylinders to release the brakes, showing that they were still holding three hours after the impact. He was going to suggest to the Department i that the breakdown tool sets in the ■ vans should be duplicated. ! THE DRIVERS’ EVIDENCE. The evidence of the engine-driver (Alexander S. Stewart) was taken at his residence, as he is not fit to appear. The brakes were tested at Porootarao and were satisfactory. The train passed Ongarue at about twentyfive miles an hour. Then he shut off 1 steam and drifted along at about I twenty miles an hour, but the speed might have increased to thirty miles ■ by the time the engine struck the slip. The headlight was burning well, he i didn’t see anything before running into the slip. He applied the brakes imj mediately. The engine appeared to ' strike a heavy store and was tossed . about. After tarveiling some distance I the engine was thrown into a bank. I Witness was struck on the head and : rendered unconscious. The door of the I smoke box must have been struck by ■ a large, stone in passing. Witness knew ' the line as well as the best. He had been running on it for years and did not regard this part .as dangerous. He knew other places which were more dangerous, and when coming to the dangerous places he would take extra precautions. He didn’t consider there was anv necessity to do so here. His impression was that the slip came down immediately before the tr-in came along. He thouobf the. vibration of the train had a event deal td* do with the slip coming down. T'-a iimnjry was adjourned to Wellington sine die.