AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] X.S.W. RAILWAY SMASH. SYDNEY, June 28. At the inquest on the victims of the Aberdeen railway smash in X.S.W. on June 1.1. Police Sergeant Grady gave evidence that ho had examined the viaduct immediately after the accident and be found that the rails had spread at the snot where the train first left the line. He found also that the wood of the viaduct was rotten, and was white ant eaten. Other witnesses testified that the viaduct was white-ant eaten, and that it had lioeii unsafe for months.

Mr E. Butcher, Railway Engineer for the. Northern District, expressed the opinion that the derailment was caused by the high speed at which the train was travelling, which xyehronised with a depression in the tracks.

Air Butcher, continuing his evidence, said that lie did not think that the condition of the bridge or the piers bad contributed in any way to the accident, and he thought that, even if the bridge had been of steel, the accident would possibly not have been averted. He concluded by stating that the result had been so serious as it was because after the derailment, the viaduct was in the way before the train could be brought to a standstill. Ho suggested that the accident was caused bv excessive speed.

NEW GOLD RUSH. SYDNEY. June 28. Arrivals from New Guinea report the discovery of alluvial gold near Morobe, in wild country, eight thousand feet above sea level, requiring a six-days’ journey through a rugged, precipitous jungle. It- is stated to be a richer extension of a field which lias Keen working for some time. The gold is described as being of poor quality, being worth about 52s Gd per ounce. A considerable number of men have already made their way to tin? field. The chief difficulties in the way of developing the field arc a scarcity of supplies, and the difficulty and dearness of recruiting labour for their carriage.