THE AUCKLAND CORONER. *___—

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1793, 4 July 1913, Page 7

THE AUCKLAND CORONER.

' (By Telegraphs-Special Correspondent.') Auckland, July 3. ■ A petition to the House of Representatives is being, circulated, largely for signature by those who consider that an. injustice 'has been, done to Mr. Thos. Graham, who has for 35 years occupied, the position of coroner. The petition indicates that 'Mr. Gresham was appointed oororer in 1878, aiid that, from .that date until June 17, lie zealously and efficiently discharged his duties. ■. Moreover, during that period, the Department never expressed other than approval of Mr. Gresbain's methods of oond/ucting inquiries or commented upon the fact that ho has almost invariably exercised the option to oonduct the inquests ivith juries, In England (it is pointed out in the petition) no inquest is ever held without a jury. On June 12 last Mr. Gresham wis thanked for past services and deprived of his office. The petition concludes: "Your petition9rs are forcibly impressed, with the opinion that the Department of Justice, in imposing upon tho Stipendiary Magistrate the duties of coroner in Auckland, was influenced solely with the idea of effecting an economy, but the imposition of this duty upon magistrates already fully occupied, and who are to be paid ten shillings and sixpence plus mileage for every inquest, will be considerably more 'costly than the.system which Mr. Gresham lias administered for so many years to the public satisfaction, and which, in the opinion of your petitioners, should be reverted to. The population of Auckland is now so large that the retention of a special officer as coroner is necessary to ensure the prompt and efficient discharge of the duties pertaining to that office."

'The following advertisement, emanating apparently from a wholesale marriage troker, appeared in a Calcutta paper:— "Matrimonial.—Wanted, thousand Brahmin. Baida Kayestho, and Sategope grooms and brides." A resolution that statutory Ipowers should be sought for whipping pit boys, between the ages of 14 and 16, wty> were found guilty of gross cruelty to pft ponies, was defeated by a large majority at the Notts County quarter sessions. Far Bronchial Coughs and Colds, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is. Gd.*