FATAL COLLAPSE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20281, 24 June 1940, Page 6

FATAL COLLAPSE

WAIROA MEDICAL MAN DR. M. L. G. HALLWRIGHT EXAMINING RECRUITS VETERAN OF GREAT WAR (Special to tho Herald.) WAIROA, this day. Following a collapse between 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, while sitting on the military medical board examining recruits for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Dr. Matthew Leslie Guy Hallwright died in the Wairoa Hospital at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday. Dr. Hallwright, who was G 8 years of age, had boon practising in Wairoa for 23 years, and was medical superintendent of the hospital for the whole of that period. He was born in Birmingham, England, on July 8, 1871, and graduated M.D. and F.R.C.S. at the University College of London and in Edinburgh. He was resident medical officer at the Birmingham Infirmary in 1895, while in 1896 he was appointed district commissioner and held tho appointment of medical officer in British Honduras, returning to England in 1899.

Coming to New Zealand in 1907, he was appointed medical superintendent of the Westport Hospital,- 'a position which he held until the outbreak of war in 1914. when he relinquished the position to join the R'.A.M.C. He served for two years with the forces with the rank of captain, and arrived back in New Zealand in 1917, when he came to Wairoa, remaining in practice here up to the time of his death. Wide Interests

He had always taken a keen interest in local activities. He was a very keen bowler, and was a prominent figure on the Wairoa Bowling Club’s green, of which he was a past president. He was also president at one time of the Wairoa County Club. In Dr. Hallwright, St. Paul’s Anglican Churcn had a staunch friend, and for a number of years he held the office of vicar’s warden.

In 1914, Dr. Hallwright married Ethel May, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Pieremont, who is left to mourn her loss with three sons, Mr. G. P. Hallwright, who is studying at the University of Otago, Mr. W. W. Hallwright, who is on the medical staff of the Wellington Hospital, and Mr. M. N. Hallwright, at present in British Honduras.

The interment is to be at the Wairoa Cemetery" to-morrow, following a service at St. Paul’s Church at 2 p.m.