ROTORUA RAILWAY ACCIDENT INQUIRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8518, 24 August 1907, Page 5

ROTORUA RAILWAY ACCIDENT INQUIRY.

UNEXPECTED DEVELOP- : IJMENTS. By T^legrgph-—Press Association. ABOKLAND, August 23. The inquiry in connection with the disaster to the Rotorua goods and passenger .train on August 3rd was • resumed torday. and unexpected . developmenteitook place during the . proceedings. .Mr Kettle, S.M., pre- ' sided, and Mr iPrendergast appeared , for the Railway Department, and . Mr F. E. Reame, K.C., for the train staff. In the of the proceedings Mr Prendergast asked the Court to order the witnesses out. Mr Baume-said that if the persons for whom he was here to watch the proceedings !ior could not remain he could not stay either. After considerable discussion Mr Kettle orderedithe.witnesses out. Mr Baume strongly, and said he would iretire and advise the witnesses notdo : .give evidence. Mr Kettle:: '"Very well, we must summons the witnesses." Mr Baume:: "They have not been summoned. I -advising them that as they are ao.t tallowed to remain here they are w.r.y foolish to give evidence without .being summoned." A number <oif thoss still in the room then lefit, Mr Kettle ordered the witnesses;,,-.who had gone to the lower ro<3£&. &c the brought be- | ; fore him. ; As they fiJed in ;Mr Baume met ! _each one and was ihearlUtelling them I -to go through the feaili ar d out at the ifront. Mr Kettle, notking 'dais, called j iQilt, "Come back h^re.!iGome back!" i ;Mr Baume, to witnesses.:'"Out you I g<Q. Goon!" .Mr Kettle; "Cos®# faacki! I want t® ,-qpeak to those men V Mr Baume: "Don't you come feaekl!" Mr iKettle to Mr Bausoe:: '"J cannot sjfcand this conduct. I ana in charge ( of this Court, and I wish .to say something to these wstiwisses. M Mr iSaume: "You can &ay itt® me. Tfrpy are my clients.-"' j Mr Kettle: "You have no right' to interrupt the proceedings of the Court in tfcis manner. You seem to be taking ©barge of the inquiry/' Mr Baume.: "They cannot be called without being: summoned." Mr Kettle-; "I am in charge of these proceedings, and I want these men called." Mr Baume: "fhey are my clients, i There is a constaole there, and if you have legal poster to stop these snen, I advise you to use it." Mr Kettle: "I shall take good care to fceep within the Act, If the men do rjot appear without • summonses they will be compelled to come. " The witnesses then leffc the Ccurt, followed by Mr Baume. Mr Kettle said later that the men came on a verbal subpoena. They were advised by counsel not to give evidence unless subpoenas were issued to them. The inquiry was being held under the Railway Act, and he was not certain that under that Act he had power to commit ; them for contempt. L r e would look into the point. Had it been in another Court he would have known what to do. If there was no power to commit for contempt, and the witnesses refused to obey the subpoenas, i it would be a peculiar position. 1 During the course of the inquiry 1 Edward J. Harris, stationmaster ] at Putaruaru, said that he had to i work on an average 16 hours a day. 1 The inquiry was adjourned till to- 1 morrow, i