D.—3

Sittings of the Board commenced at Wanganui on 13th April, 1938, and continued at Wellington on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of the same month. On the last-mentioned day the hearing was adjourned sine die, the intention being to proceed as early as possible after the engine-driver's recovery, and the sittings of the Board were resumed at Wellington on the 14th June, 1938, and continued until the 28th June, 1938. The sittings of the Board were duly advertised, and any persons desiring to communicate to the Board any matters relevant to the inquiry were invited to do so either by appearing in person at any of the sittings of the Board or by submitting written statements. The Railways Department was represented before the Board by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., who had with him Mr. F. W. Aickin, Railway Law Officer. Mr. G. G. G. Watson appeared on behalf of the New Zealand Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association and for Enginedriver Percival, a member of the association. Messrs. C. M. Armstrong, F. J. Foot, and N. T. Gillespie appeared on behalf of the relatives of certain persons who were passengers on W 4 train and who were killed or died of injuries as a result of the accident to the train. The following departmental witnesses were examined on oath : — Albert Leslie Smith, Assistant Traffic Manager, Railways Department, Wanganui. Oliver Langman Kidson, Train Control Operator, Railways Department, Wanganui. George James Bertinshaw, Chief Engineer, Railways Department, Wellington. John Dow, District Engineer, Railways Department, Wanganui. William Theodore Langbein, Assistant District Engineer, Railways Department, Wanganui. Cyril Arthur Gaylard, Porter, Railways Department, Turakina. George Raymond Blockley, Surfaceman, Railways Department, Wangaehu. James William Henderson, Ganger, Railways Department, Turakina. Henry Wright Buckingham, Ganger, Railways Department, Wanganui. William Edmonds, Inspector of Permanent-way, Railways Department, Wanganui. Ernest William Hall, Train-examiner, Railways Department, Palmerston North. Samuel Stanley Joines, Train-examiner, Railways Department, Palmerston North. Hamilton Richard Cohen, Train-examiner, Railways Department, Marton. James Brown, Stationmaster, Railways Department, Turakina. James Courtney Bell, Engine-driver, Railways Department, Wangnaui. Edward Samuel Creelman, Train-examiner, Railways Department, Wellington. Herbert Rigden Lepper, Lifter, Railways Department, Wellington. Sturz Barton Barltrop, Car and Wagon Inspector, Railways Department, Wellington. George Reid, Engine-driver, Railways Department, Wellington. Richard Henry Tripp, Engine-driver, Railways Department, Wellington. Alexander Smillie Wansbrough, Designing Engineer, Railways Department, Wellington. Reginald John Gard, Designing Engineer, Railways Department, Wellington. Percy Roy Angus, Locomotive Superintendent, Railways Department, Wellington. James Charles Jones, Engine-driver, Railways Department, Wellington. Sibley Everest Gamby, Road Foreman, Railways Department, Auckland. Francis Alfred Ellis, Acting Locomotive Foreman, Railways Department, Wellington. In addition, the surviving members of the train crew, namely : — Thomas Henry White, Guard, Railways Department, Wellington ; and Edward Clifton Percival, Engine-driver, Railways Department, Wellington, and the following passengers were examined on oath : — James Laurie Winstone, Nurseryman, Otaki. Henry Arthur Hare, Hotel Porter, Wellington. Gordon James Mullins, Tramway Employee, Wellington. Mary Agnes Irwin Hanning, Married Woman, Wellington. Charles Allen, Factory Operative, Lower Hutt. Beatrice Florence Wilkinson, Married Woman, Paraparaumu. Frederick Harry Taylor, Apprentice Fitter-turner, Railways Department, Woburn. William Henry Eden, Cleaner, Railways Department, Wellington. Frederick William Billows, Messenger, Wellington. Thomas Joseph Calnan, Storeman, Wellington. Humphrey James Barnicoat, Medical Practitioner, Kimbolton. James Arthur Lattimer, Salesman, Lepperton. Hector Dawbin Bushby, Labourer, Crofton. William John Markham McMillan, Accountant, Rotorua. Dorothy Caroline Sims, Furrier, Wellington. Archibald Hartley, Retired Watchman, Lower Hutt. Patrick Gleeson, Labourer, Wellington. Richard Gadd, Tram Conductor, Wellington. Jean Ivy Sinclair, Tailoress, Island Bay. Thomas Alexander Butchart, Clerk, Railways Department, Wellington. David Keith O'Donnell, Cadet, Railways Department, Wellington. Raymond Augustus Andrews, Brewer, Wellington. Eric William Henry Russell, Process Worker, Wellington. Henry William Bish, Leading Fitter, Railways Department, Wellington. Harry Arthur Jones, Casual Platelayer, Railways Department, Taihape, William Nixon, Cemetery Caretaker, Wellington.

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