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72

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41. You made a report on the requirements of the New Lynn Station?—At one time or another I have made a report. 42. You suggested in that report that the water-tank should be placed at the south end ?- Yes, I believe I did. 43. What other suggestions did you make in regard to improvements in the yard?—l have made suggestions in regard to the Avondale race traffic. 44. Have those suggoslions of yours been acted upon?—l could not say what action has been taken in the matter. 45. Have you been out there since? —Yes. 46. Do you know if those suggestions were acted upon in connection with the Avondale races last Wednesday? No. Ido not think they have been acted upon yet as far as lam aware. 47. In reply to Mr. Sykes you said that tlie tablet-porter has not too much to do when the two trains arrive at Now Lynn?—l consider ho has not too much to do with the assistance he gets from the train. 48. From your experience when a train arrives, do tho guards give the Stationmaster that assistance which the Department expects them to do?—Of course, that is left to the man in charge. If they do not do xvhat is required the man in charge has the responsibility. 49. You know that New Lynn is a station'with a lot of shunting? —Yes. 50. Is it not usual for tho man who is looking after tho train to go and see what trucks are to be put on? —Yes, and shunt his own train. 51. And do you not consider there is too much for the tablet-porter to do when he has to issue all the tickets that are issued on a Monday morning?—No, I consider not. 52. And you think he is a capable and good officer? —Yes. 53. Well, can you tell the Commit toe why he was dismissed? —No. 54. Do you not think it is a pity to lose a valuable officer if there is nothing against him ?—I could not say. 55. Do you not think the Department is making a mistake in dismissing a good officer if there is nothing against him? —I would not say. 56. Mr. Green.] What speed do you call a cautious speed coming down Scroggy Hill?—lf it was in a dense fog I should say a cautious speed would be eight or ten miles an hour. 57. You would not call fifteen miles an hour an excessive speed, would you?— Yes. 58. During the time you have been in the Auckland Province have you ever seen any practical demonstrations given of fog-signalling? —Yes. 5.). How long ago was it. and who was there?— There is very little fog in or about Auckland. At Frankton and Taumarunui the demonstrations were given. 60. But there have been none on the Henderson line? —No. 61. You have not boon there early in tho morning?—No, excepting when coming from Henderson. 62. Have you ever seen any fotrs rising on the flat?—No, I have not seen any fogs worth calling a fog up that line. 63. Do you think it xvould be possible to see the semaphore from the middle of the platform if there was a fog? —Not if there was a dense fog. 64. Say, in an ordinary fog?— Yes, it would be quite possible. 65. Do you knoxv that the branches of the trees extend out 8 ft. and block the view of the semaphore?—No, I have not noticed them. 66. You knoxv there is a curve at tho north end? —Yes. 67. It is about 27 ft. from the nose of the crossing to the switch? —I could not say anything in regard to the distance; it is not in my department. 68. You do not know who gave the instructions for the train to do the shunting at the south nn\ of the station?—No, I do not know. 69. Can you tell me why Mortimer was shifted? —No. 70. Mr. Kennedy.] You have said that it is your duty to see that the rules and regulations with regard to train-runliing are complied with?—As far as is in my power. 71. Do you know whether Rule 148 (b). which provides for fog-signalling, was carried out at New Lynn previous to tlie collision?—lt was not carried out on that particular morning, and it has not been carried out since. It is one of those stations at which we did not think it necessary. 72. Was fog-signalling carried out pi iir to the accident? —Not to my knowledge. . 73. Then, as far as fog-signalling is concerned the rules were a dead-letter? —No, the apparatus was there if it was found necessary to use it. 74. Do you not think the rules relating to fog-signalling are very important seeing that they affect the safety of the public?— They are very important in a way, certainly. 75. Do you not think they should have been carried out in their entirety at Nexv Lvnn?— No, not on the day of the accident. 76. Do those rules apply to Nexv Lynn the same as to other stations?— Yes, certainly. 77. Rule 155 reads. "At all signal-boxes (whether intermediate or otherwise) xvhere no fogsignalmen are appointed, or where such men are appointed but have not arrived, the signalman. when he requires to stop an approaching train, in addition to keeping his signals at 'Danger.' must place two detonators on tho line to which the signals apply, sufficiently apart to give two distinct reports." Surely this rule is intended to moot any neglect on the part of the men who are to carry out Rule 148 (b)1 —No, there is no neglect. It is to carry out the fog-signalling regulations where it is not considered necessary to appoint fog-signalmen. I do not see that one man can do two men's work. He must do the best ho can. 78. Since the accident has Rule 148 (b) boon brought into force?— No. 79. Fog-signalmen have not been appointed at Nexv Lynn?—No, I do not think so.