ONGARUE DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1923, Page 1

ONGARUE DISASTER.

EXQI/i i(Y OPENED. [l’.Y TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. .Inly lfi. 'I lip official enquiry into the Ungaruc disaster opened to-day. The Board is charged 10 enquiie: (1) What was the '•nii'c of the derailment t2i Was any employee in the service of the Railway Department guilty of any dereliction of doty which, directly or indirectly eonlribitted to such derailment? (3) (Generally, are. there any circumstances in connection with the derailment which call for comment: more particularly wind step-, if any. might he introduced to prevent the locimvm e of a similar accident.

Mr H. H. Sterling (."solicitor to the Railv.iy Department), in opening the ease, lemarhed that the accident. he helievetl. was without precedent in t!ti‘ hi tory of the railways of Xtav Zealand. it was proposed to call certain oviden -n on helialf of the Department, in order that the Board might fully nuderstand all the matters which would he brought under their notice. The Department would assist the Hoard to the utmost of its power in conducting the investigations. On behalf of the General Manager of the Department, lie tools the opportunity of expressing sympathy with the bereaved, and with those v. ho had been injured. The evidence of the detectives travelling in the train was that everythin;, possible was done. Though more tools could have been used, there were amide tools for the work. Officials stated that the accident could not have been foreseen. Heavy rains had caused the slip. The boulder became dislodged, and it ronld not he seen, on account if the bend in (lie cutting. The Hoard adjourned to Tnumnruntii, to inspeci the scetie, and the locality, and Ip take further evidence, after which it wib return to Wellington.