CAR OVER BANK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 December 1928, Page 11

CAR OVER BANK.

OCCUPANT FATALLY HURT.

' CORONER. CONDUCTS INQUIRY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Joseph O’Neill, who died as the result of injuries received when a taxi in which lie was riding went over a bank in Taita gorge in the early 'hours of the morning of December 3, I was continued before Mr. J. H. Salmond to-day. A mechanic stated that there was nothing wrong with the engine or the brakes and the tyres were good. Joseph Knock Horsfall, custodian of the oil-tanker Otakia, said that O’Neil] and a taxi-driver visited him on the night of December 2. O’Neill had been drinking a bit, but the taxi-driver was all right. The driver, whom he had known in Auckland as Sergent, brought some fish and chips and a bottle of whisky from the car, and each man had a drink. The three returned to the taxi, where no liquor was consumed, and it was decided to go for a drive along the Ilutt Road. They made two stops for more liquor, hot the witness could not swear definitely whether the driver had drink on these occasions They stopped at Quinn’s Post, where O’Neill had five drinks. Witness saw Sergent with a glass in bis band and beard him say ‘•Make’ it light.” At this stage the inquest was adjourned. till to-morrow.