MANAWAPOU TRAGEDY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 6

MANAWAPOU TRAGEDY.

INQUEST ON MRS MciPALLUM. ADJOURNED for fortnight,

f l(h<© inquiry into tilie oircumiistancfHS surrounding the death of Mrs .Florence MeGalium, 50 years of age, who was ilrownetl ini the Mianawapou iniver, on July 9, when a car driven by her husband, Mir John M'oCMluin, went over the hank into the river, was opened at Hlawena this morning by Mr J. S. Barton, coroner. John MoCMiluiin, commercial traveller, resadi ng in Wanganui, said that lie was on hie round from Wanganui to TlarnnakiL on July 9 and, accompanied by his wife, they left Wanganui at 8.15 a.in. and made calls at different towns on the way uip. The last call . was at Manutahi, where they were joined by his son, Morton McGallum, who had come in (another car to meet them. The eon drove on ollidad after leaving Manutahi. Witness said he had. held a license since the beginning of the year, and his license was issued by the Auckland Cliity Council. . In reply to Sergeant Henry, witness said he had been driving the car, a six cylinder, three-seater Studebaker, about three weeks continuously prior to the accident- and during that time had driven from Wanganui to 'Wellington and back, and had undertaken trips to Taihape land elsewhere, finding no difficulty whatever in the management of. the car. . , In crepfly to tilio coroner, witness samel that after leaving Manutahi about 1.3 p.m. he proceeded towards Hlawera, and coming down the Manaiwapou hill bis speed was about 20 miles per hour. On coming to the bridge he eased up, and after getting onto the bridge he got too close to the railing on the right- and grazed it with his right hand front mudgiuard. To lav’oid a collision, ‘vv-.itli. t)nc bridge he put on the brakes suddenly and simultaneously swerved to the left. There was no other traffic in view at the time. The car came off the bridge and left the road immediately after. He did not turn the car to full look; could not account for striking the bridge; and could not throw any light as to how tiie accident could have happened. There was nothing to distract his attention. , . Witness further said that by the time the bar readied the grass lie had declutched- the engine and had the brakes hard on, but he was helpless owing to the -oii-easy nature of the grass and the ear plunged over the bank into the To the Sergeant: Witness said he did not remember anything after leavimo- the grass at the side of the road. He had a hazy recollection of floating down the river, and when he recognised his .son later oil the batik, he (witness) was in the water holding on to some vegetation. Ho had no idea how far floated, and he had bus pipe in his hand when assisted out. Witness made search lor Mrs MOUall inn in company with the police and other helpers for a fortnight in an endeavour to find the body, and was quite positive that everything possible had been done to recover it. . Witness protested against certain rumours that Mrs McOallum was driving the car. and that he had a v certain amount of liquor. “These rumours are absolutely contrary to the fact, . he said. “On the day of the accident my wife was in perfect health and spirits and the accident was. quite unaccountable, the car being in perfect condiThe inquiry was adjourned for a fortnight to enabde other witnesses to attend.