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I.—6a.

A. L. MAHGAN.

I 10. Then you have no complaint on that score? —No. 120. You are complaining about the congested business, and 1 asked you whether you are aware that your linn were asked to pay for giving additional accommodation to deal with their own business? -I say to the best of my knowledge and belief that the Now Ze.aland Brick and Tile Company has never been approached for extra money for providing more accommodation. The accommodation that I have spoken of is nothing to do with the New Zealand Brick and Tile Company—it is a matter of what is wanted at the station-yard itself. Private enterprise cannot be expected to put their hands in their pockets to provide facilities for the Government to work their goods. 121. You said that you have heard some member of the Railway staff asking assistants from time to time whether the points were locked? —Yes. 122. Does that indicate carefulness or carelessness on the part of the tablet porter? —It does both. There is not so much in what is said as there is in the way it is said. The man is rushing about doing his business, and at the very last moment I have heard him shout out, " Hey, Tom, are those points locked? " and the reply has been, " I do not know; ask So-and-so. Sing out to him to lock them, as she is due." I think the time has arrived when some alteration should be maih —that it should bo clearly and definitely some man's duty to see that the points are locked, and to lock them with his own hands and not depend upon his memory. I saxv an accident occur previous to this one when tho points were not locked, and the train smashed into a string of trucks at the station and knocked the buffers off the engine at this very same spot. 123. If the tablet porter asks tho assistant if tho points are locked before he lowers the signal or lets the train in does it not indicate carefulness on his part? —It certainly indicates carefulness. The point is that I consider a man should not have to run after Tom Jones or Bill Brown — he should be in a position to witness the locking of the points or have some one deputed to attend to it. 124. Do you know any business where a particular man is told off for every duty?—No, I do not in connection xvith the railway. 125. Do you tell a man off to do a particular job and keep him to that?— Yes, I do. 126. And do you not ask him if certain things are done?—l see it is done myself. I have certain men in charge of certain sections. 127. You do what you complain the tablet porter should not have done —you ask Smith or Broxvn?—Not in the same respect. I admit the tablet porter xvas competent and a conscientious man, but I xvish to point out that the Department is not axvare of the manner in which the station is worked inasmuch as there does not appear to be sufficient authority at such a busy station. 128. I have pointed out to you that the tablet porter is in authority? —I think the time has arrived when there should be somebody in a higher position than the tablet porter at a station with a revenue of £15,000 or .£lB,OOO. 129. It is not a question of income?— The question of income signifies that there must be a certain amount of xvork, and the place must be very busy to produce that amount. We are not handling valuable stuff, but it is bulky. Most of the bricks we produce do not go any great distance. The freight to Wellington may be £2 15s. a ton, but the bulk of our produce goes into the city, where xve only pay Is. 9d. per ton, and when the revenue amounts to £15,000 or £18,000. at such a small rate you can easily realize tho amount of traffic that takes place at that station. There is also 400 or 500 tons of coal coming into the station. With such a large amount of traffic there should be somebody with more authority. 130. You have not told us yet how more authority would have prevented that accident— how would tlie appointment of a Stationmaster have prevented it?—ln my opinion if there had been a reliable man with practical knoxvledge—that is to say, a man of higher grade than a porter —ho would have usod'more discretion on such a morning than to have allowed a train to come forward when the other train was due. The train has only six minutes from the time it arrives at New Lynn to take in water and alloxv the passengers to alight. If a responsible person xvas in charge of the station ho would point out to tho Department that it was almost impossible to carrx- out the work according to the time-table and do tho xvork in a satisfactory manner. He would take more upon himself than the ordinary everyday porter does. 131. Mr. McDerinott.] You said your business brings you in contact with the members in charge of the station? —Yes. 132. Do you know of any provision having been made for a fog-signal at the New Lvnn Station since the accident? —Yes. T understand that fog-signalmen have been appointed. I think there is a notice posted up in the station since the accident that the porter xvho goes off at night has to come out on command of his fellow-porter to act as signalman xvith him. 133. You witnessed the xvay No. 5 used to work previously —it used to go north and shunt up through the road? —Yes. 134. What is the practice now? —It goes forxvard now. It comes into the station siding and stops there. 135. Does it go into the siding or on to the main line? —It goes into the siding. Hopkins Thoxias sworn and examined. (No. 6.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you?—l was a railway man, but I do not know whether I am now or not. 2. And you reside where?—At Waikumete. I was a passenger on the train on the morning of the accident. Before I got into the train 1 observed that there was a fog at New Lynn, and I got into the first carriage of the train. Going down towards New Lynn the train gave a

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