RAILWAY ENQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1925, Page 2

RAILWAY ENQUIRY.

\Y KHBI xerox. Oct 12. I lie Commission iif I ui|iii r\- into ihe Opapn railway smash was resumed Indue. Professor H. -I. Scott, formerly Prolessor of F.ngineering at Canterbury College, said t fiat lie luid been asked ny the Government to repnrl on the cause of the accident, lie had examined ihe -i el it' ol I lie accident and tlm Ine.unot i\ e, and luid made certain tests mi In- own initiative. Ollieers of the Department lmd placed every facility in his way. and rendered any necessary assistance. Ili- hands had been entirely Die. lie luid made a written report on October fi. lie rode on an engine of,the same class a- the one involved in the accident. lie travelled on the footplate from Wai|nipa In Hastings. A portion of the line near I lie scene of I lie accident, owing to the constant variation In eurvil lire, was nf a somew hat aw kward character, but in negotiating it at a speed ot betueun twenty-three and twenty-five Hides an hour the engine took tile curie silica.tidy, and there was no undue oseillat ion. The remainder of t lie rim Li llas| iups rulied for a fairly high Inn by no means excessive speed. He inspected the engine H-ed ■ ill the day of the accident. I.ittle of the running gear was seriously damaged. and the whole engine appeared to have been in excellent order prior to the del ailment. The- wheel flangewere in very good eonditoii. (In the engine being lowered nil to the bogie it was fmi in I to -taud in normal trim, all clearances being amide. An inspection of the track at l*.l■ ■ sremi of the accident showed it to be ill excellent order. The jaiTah sleepers showed a lomtilete absence of softness, and all the fastenings had a scenic lin'd. The conclusion lie had conn' to were; (1) That the locomotive was in lir-1-elass running order and that to n i defect ill the upkeep c Mild the derailment be-at t rihut ed. (2) That the truck wax substantial in character, and was in exc.-11,-nt older. (3) That twenty-live miles an hour limit for (he speed on tlii- portion of the track was a safe -peed for the train as eon -1 i 1 m ed. Replying i 1 1111e- 1 1oi,- utter leading Ili- eoiieiu-i'ins Professor Scott -tntod euip'iat ii ally the ira-k. engine Certain point- in the conclusions and ipiesi inn- were withheld from publication. as it wtts considered unfair to publish them until the engine-driver was able to b<- present and er- ---examine Professor Scot I. Professor Scott said lie i on-ideix-d that- the ! i'lie-ta I V speeds were not too

Mr Myor-. lor tile Railway Department . -aid lie only wished to call 1‘ e engine-driver, fireman, stainoi master and some pa-euper-. but the driver still was in hospital. Mr Riddell, eliainti; the com mission. said the inquiry would be a't.ioiirnetl till the driver was able to attend. A week’s notice would be given and the proceeding- would be resumed at Napier.