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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 473, 4 February 1881, Page 2

It is our painful duty to chronicle the sudden death of Mr D. M. Currie, who for some six months past has occupied the position of foreman printer iv the office of The Akaroa Mail. On Sunday the deceased, who was lodging with Mr G. Wright, Jollie street was taken with fits, and Dr Guthrie, on being sent for, found him exhibiting symptoms of lead poisoning and epileptiform _ts. By Monday night the unfortunate man was wandering in his mind and needed constant watching. On Tuesday morning Mr Wright fetched Sergeant Willis, and formally handed his lodger over to his care, on the ground that he was suffering from delirium tremens,nmi that he needed more supervision than he (Mr Wright) was able to bestow. Means were taken to bave the sufferer removed to Lyttelton for medical treatment, but between four and five o'clock in the afternoon he looli another fit, from which ho never rallied, and he breathed his iast about three minutes to five. Yesterday ,*n inquest was held on the body before the Coroner, Justin Aylmer, ___.£., and a jury, of which Mr R. Noonan was chosen foreman. At this enquiry the foregoing facts were elicited. It was aieo shown that about midnight on Monday Mr Wright had an interview with Sergeant Willis and Mr Wiggins,deceased'e employer,as to what was to be done with the patient. At the suggestion of the Sergeant, Mr Wiggins guaranteed the expenses of some one to look after deceased for twenty-four hours On the following morning, however, Mr Wright handed him over to the police It was further shown that, while in custody, the poor fellow received the kindest possible treatment. Dr Guthrie stated that on his visit to deceased on Sunday he could direct no symptoms of alcoholic poisoning, but on the Tuesday these symptoms were apparent. lie attributed death to the combination of diseases already mentioned, and considered that it had been accelerated by the fact that de ceased had not taken sufficient nutriment, and had endeavored to supply its p'acc by stimulants. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes."—ln Mr Currie the proprietors of this journal lose an able, faithful, and conscientious servant, and all with whom he has been brought into contact during bis sojourn amongst us have found him urbane, kindly, and genial in his manner For a long time his health has been impaired, and to those who knew him best his 6udden death was not unexpected, but there is a wide-spread feeling of regret that it should have taken place under such unhappy circumstances as those above derailed. The brother of deceased, who resides in Christchurch, arrived in Akaroa on Wednesday last, and the remains were removed iv the Hawea for interment in Dunedin, in which place the family were brought up, and where deceased's parents are buried.