HARBOUR TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 6

HARBOUR TRAGEDY

DRIVE ON WATERFRONT

FATHER'S STORY

MOMENTARY DISTRACTION

OBSERVATION BY SON

(Par Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day

The tragic Story .of the circumstances of the accident in which the mother and three children lost the r lives when the car in which they were travelling plunged into the Auckland hai'bour at Campbell's Point last night, was told by the father of the family, Mr. Harold James Lawson, to his brother, James Richmond Lawson.

The family had gone to visit friends in Parnell, but finding them out for the evening, decided at the boy Peter's request to go down to the waterfront to watch the shipping.

Mr. Harold Lawson drove to tne yacht clubhouse and as he went on round the building, believing the road continued all the way. his attention was distracted by his son's remark: "Look at that boat, with all the lights. Daddy."

The next tiling Mr. Lawson knowwas that the car was in the water. He managed to escape through a window. The car, which was still partly full of air, remained suspended for a while, and he tried to drag one of the family out. but the vehicle settled on to the bottom and he lost his grip.

At the opening of the inquest oerorc the coroner. Mr. F. K. Hunt. James Lawson said his brother was devoted to his wife and family. He Was in good financial circumstances, (but for the past month had been suffering nervous strain on account of pressure of work. He had been driving about 13 months and was considered a good driver and very careful. His eyesight was good. The inquest was adjourned.

Mr. Lawson is still suffering froir shock, but his condition to-day is more satisfactory.

The police are now working to re cover the car.