THE MANGAROA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 90, 17 April 1900, Page 2

THE MANGAROA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

OFFICIAL ENQUIKY.

[PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "Wellington, April 14. At the Departmental enquiry into the Mangaroa railway accident, George Smith, driver- of the wrecked train, sau\t\\e> eugkui brakes were applied as provided by the regulations ; the line was very greasy and ho found the train sliding gradually away. He endeavoured to stop the train at tho usual place to enable the waggon brakes to be applied, but was unable to, He could nut 1 understand why the vau brakes did not pull him up. He had every confidence in the guards, Barrett and Hicks, but there must have been something wrong when they did not get the brakes on. If thoy had, the train could easily have been stopped. Ho put the steam brake on and reversed the engines when he found the train slipping away. He had known slight accidents happen at the spot on three

occasions. J. G. Barrett, guard of the train, said ho had applied the brakes of tho van, Out finding the train did not stop, lie ran and let down the brakes of three waggons. This did not appear to have any effect in dew easing the speed. lie never heard any whistle for the brakes, and was unawaie tiiat the train was slipping away when he applied the brakes, but thought the driver was [ having a difficulty in pulling up. The van brakes were in good older, and it was safe to bring any train down the hill which the engi.ie could pull across (ha ikfc at Mangar:;.'.. Ho physii ally fit for the work, and did not say to thejast tii«u had Lc Use.. !10.j .it, So. Vjlk ;J0 '.La. id h.SsO gui :.io_.e Uakea dov.'ii. L.u had been ill before i-.iO ueciuejii but Lad iuJ a spell. A.ej-.-illau, i.jeta.Lii, uj.ii when iho virtue brake;-; wwifpui, on -.he other : '.'ds oi Kaitoke, the but thayv.uto going not more than four idiles hour and tliurc was nothing lo him.or the brakesmen putting down lae brakes, lie did not think it safe ; (■J have fifty Wiig-foust on with one engine where the road wascurvey, ]_«)' i eard Barrett say ih..v if hj !, *1 U>j„ i'l right becoii:d .•v-ivJiii^j; stopping tj.t ' {' The vflijuirv v<rt adjc.umd for Uiei ?videuee of Hick.--, the guard, who was! . liured in the r.ei&Wt. The latter, *' • 'io JS in '.! i: a- w m.il' in