ONGARUE DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1923, Page 3

ONGARUE DISASTER.

GEOLOGIST’S EVIDENCE

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, Aug. IQ

The Commission of Inquiry into the railway disaster at Ongnrue sat again to-day. Dr John Henderson, mining geologist to the Government Survey Department, said that he made an inspection of tho locality of the scene of tlie accident. After describing at length the geological formation of the locality, he said, ”1 am of opinion that the slip came about somewhat as follows. Much wet weather previous to July I! had saturated the porous rhyolite rock with water, had soaked downward till it reached the impervious papa. Underground streams were found on llie irregular surface of papa and these streams issued at low points between the rhyolite the papa. Such a spring formed a slip. It saturated a small pocket of loose “and till the roots of the vegetation clothing the cutting were no longer able to hold the sand together on the underlying slope of papa.” Front his inspection, added witness, lie did not think any inspection by a ganger would enable him to toll the slip was coming down. The slip must have come down suddenly. He thought a short time before the accident. The slip would continue until the whole pocket was emptied. The water would soak down from above on to the channel in the papa, where the pumice would he saturated. Builders would ho in the saturated sand. So long as the conditions were normal, the boulders would remain in position. When the conditions became abnormal, the boulders would help to carry tlie slip away, lit would not consider (lie place dangerous, -standing as it had been for a nil tube; of years.

In answer to a question, witness said that the vibration of the train travelling at 25 miles an hour, would, he thought tend to cause the slip.

Ernest Edward Gillon, chief locomotive Engineer, of the Now Zealand Railways, put in an exhibit of the technical works, to which he had referred in his evidence as authorities on the questions involved.

A wtness named Charles Olio, was called but did not appear, and tlie evidence was declared closed. Mr Sterling, then, for Idle Railway Department, addressed the Commis-

sion, commenting on tho frank do tneanonr and candour of the witnesses particularly the olTLors of the Rail wav Department.

In an address ho fore tho Railway Commissien. Mr .Sterling said the line had been inspected frequently bv the ganger, inspector and District Engineer. Though this was sufficient, complaints had been made by travellers concerning the delay of trains at Taumarunui, but ibis was due to the fact that the engineer had considered the line unsafe. Criticising the proposal that trains should carry portable telephones lie said they had been found unworkable in Central Otago. Referring to a

suggestion for carrying a swinging light, he stated that the innovation had proved a failure, and was considered more of a hiudanec. In bis opinion there were sufficient breakdown tools carried by the train. The trains were not- too large, as tlie engines wore quite powerful enough to draw' tlie load, lie did nm. think people would agree to travel in the daytime, owing to the time lost and lie did not think it was a great advantage, as it was proved in the present disaster that the engine-driver could not get- a- hotter view of tile si cue when negotiating a sharp curve. In fiituie the risk of fire would be eliminated, as the Department were installing the electric light, which would also make the headlight stronger. He thought everything luid been done to prevent disaster. lie pointed out that only two accidents had recurred .since the line opened. 'Pile (‘oiumissieit tlmu intimated it would drill ,1- its decision in duo ( "Ills''.