L—6a

[S. KENNEDY.

60

77. How can he run full time and comply with the rules in regard to fog-signals?—l might explain a trip I ran myself in a dense fog. 1 ran the express between Timaru and Christchurch, and there was a dense fog between Timaru and Ashburton. For the first two or three stations 1 went by there xvere no fog-signals. I had to pull up and run at five or five miles an hour before I picked up the home signals, and I recollect one station where I lost three minutes before I picked up the signal. I xvent to the Stationmaster and said, "If you don't wire your men at the stations along the road and get them to send men out with lamps this train will probably arrive in Christchurch a quarter of an hour late." I had a hard time. I had my head out in the fog and cold, and my eyes were smarting. I knew tho road well, and had been running on it for years. My request was complied with, but still when I had done half the journey I "hail lost nearly seven minutes. That was owing to the last few stations complying with the request and sending men out in advance of the station. I knexv the road so well that I could run at full speed until within a certain distance of the signals, and if no one was there I would stop before getting to the signals, but oxving to the men being ahead with a hand-lamp I was able to go through without checking speed, because it gave me a clear signal and that carried me on till I got to the home signal. 78. Does not that carry out what 1 say. that if he complied with the rule and does not know the road, that he will lose time, and the denser the fog the more time he will lose?—I cannot folloxv you. 79. Supposing in this particular case you came to the top of the grade and then there was a dense fog, you would immediately reduce speed?—lf I know the road thoroughly I would not. 80. And you would not be prepared to pull up clear of any obstruction that might be on tin road?—l would pull up clear of any obstruction. 81. How can you do that without reducing speed?—lf any driver was used to Scoggy Hill and knew the bank it would make very little difference in tin run down till coming to the braking-point, and then not being able to see the signal he would have to reduce speed. 82. If he did not knoxv tho road would ho not reduce speed?—He would be wise to do so. 83. In a fog, under the rules, would he not reduce speed and lose time?— Yes, in a log. 84. Seeing that this particular train ran upon time, does it not appear that the speed xvas not reduced? —I might point this out: that it was only on the latter portion of the grade on Scroggy Hill that there was any fog. The drivers have each represented that they ran into a fog as they came down, and the total distance is only 1 mile 9 chains. That would only take three minutes, so that in all probability the whole time the driver was in the fog was about two minutes. 85. And at seven miles an hour?—l am talking about coming down tho grade at about txventy miles an hour.

Alexander Whisker sworn and examined. (No. 22.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you?—An engine-driver, stationed at Tauuiarunui. 2. Mr. McVilly.] How long have you been an engine-driver?— About eleven or twelve years. 3. Have you ever run between Auckland and Henderson? —Yes, I was on the same run for about nine months. 4. Have you ever worked train No. 6?— Yes. 5. Was the Westinghouse brake equipment on the train at the time?— Yes, the continuous brake. 6. Did you experience any difficulty in controlling the trains down the bank?—No, none whatever. 7. Under no circumstances?— Under all circumstances. 8. What was your experience in regard to the fog on that hill, was it bail?—No, 1 oan say I never saw a dense fog there whilst stationed at Henderson. 9. Did you ever experience a fog that was so bad that you did not know where you were and required fog-signals?— Not yet. 10. Did you ever have any difficulty in chocking the speed of your train or pulling up between Titirangi crossing and Nexv Lynn Station?—No, no trouble at all. 11. Did you ever run past the home signal?—No, I have never run past one yet. 12. Was the home signal then in the position it is now?—l could not say, hut from the evidence I should say it was farther up the bank. 13. Then that would give you a shorter distance? —Yes. 14. Do you consider a driver should have any difficulty at all in pulling up his train on a comparative flat—a grade of lin 204—with 14 chains to travel on? —No, I could pull up in a train length on that easily. 15. In regard to the density of the fog on this morning, it has been stated by the tabletporter that he could see the signals about 330 yards away; the guard says he could see distinctly 200 yards away : taking that evidence, do you think there was any necessity for fog-signals?— Certainly not. 16. Was there anything to prevent the driver of No. 6 from seeing the home signal in time to stop his train ?—I cannot see anything. I might say I heard all the evidence given at the Auckland inquiry, and there xvere other distances given as xvell as those. 17. If No. 6 was running at a reasonable rate of speed that morning from the foot of the grade approaching New Lynn Station, do you see any reason why, if a vigilant lookout had been kept, the train should not have been stopped at the home signal? —No, none xvhatever. 18. You know the rule that provides that home signals must not be passed xvhen at " Danger " I— Yes.