NAPIER.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 27, 20 January 1877, Page 2

NAPIER.

Wednesday. An inquest was held this afternoon on the body of Susan McMahon, aged 7Qf who was run over by a railway train yesterday afternoon. $hetyoman : j^M? sided m one of the Government immigration cottages abutting the railway, not far from the Napier terminus. She was going home, and' was crossing tjw line when the 3 p.m. train to the Spit* came upon her: She was seen by the engine-driv,er just as she stepped oh the line, about ten yards m front, and with her back towards him. He called out to her, whistled, and reversed the engine, but could not stop it before it knocked her down. When picked up one foot and one arm were nearly severed, hanging only by shreds. She was taken to the hospital, and died Jl^jt night. A verdict of accidental death was returned, and a rider 1 sdd«d severely censuring the authorities for not fencing' m the line at those portions where ifc passes through populated. districts. Yesterday at Waipawa an inquu^i'fts opened m the matter o£ the petition' ~'m the Hon. Henry Russell against the return of Sydney Johnston for Waipukurau Riding, Waipawa County. Evidence only was taken r the legal argument being reserved. Besides allowing' plural voting, and rejecting votes of persons entitled to vote, the returning, officer closed the poll for a quarter of an hour while he went to enquire if the" qualification was correct of persons who 1 tendered votes. He also closed the polling place for half an hour while the scrutineers and poll clerk. went to lunch,- *. he remaining outside to keepVoterjs whofmight come m talk until the scrutineers' returned. . v *. • ; ;