WAIPAWA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3108, 14 June 1881, Page 2

WAIPAWA.

(FROM " OTJR OWN CORRESPONDEHT. j June 13. The inquest on the body of John White, who was found dead on the Waipawa* Kaikora road yesterday, was held this afternoon at the Imperial Hotel, before A. St. C. Inglis Esq. (acting coroner in the absence of Dr. Todd, who was prevented from attending through indisposition), and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr E. Harwood was chosen foreman. The evidence of Messrs Drake, McGreevey, Waddington, Pettifc, and Sergeant Eidd, was heard, which went to show that the deceased had been drinking, though not heavily, for some weeks, and on Saturday and yesterday he complained of a queerness about tho head, and was last seen alive by the witness Drake at about 12.15 yesterday, when the deceased remarked he would go for a walk, not caring about any dinner, and started evidently with that determination in the direction of Kaikora. He was next found by Mr Waddington, who discovered him lying in a pool of water about six feet wide, and about a foot deep, and with the assistance of Mr S. McGreevey immediately pulled him out, when the latter gentleman tHnks life was not quite extinct, as the deceased was perfectly warm and limp. After visiting the spot where the accident took place, which is about two hundred yards from the hotel, and carefully considering the evidence before them, the jury came to tho unanimous conclusion that " the deceased, John White, was found dead on the Waipawa-Kaikora road, at about 12.45 p.m. on Sunday, the 12th day of June, but that there is no evidence to show how or by what means he came by his death." The concert in aid of the public library fund, under the "[auspices of the Waipawa Amateur Christy Minstrels, came off this evening, and was from beginning to end an unqualified success, especially when it is taken into consideration the short time they had to preparo they have all worked well together, and had a most oareful training in their respective musical parts by Mr Flood, who acted as accompanyist. Every item on the programme was rendered with any amount of ' go,'nothing happening to mar tho enjoyment of the audience, who showed their appreciation by continually giving'vent to hearty rounds of applause. I must not forget to mention that our old friend Mr Bickerton was well to the front, doing everything in his power towards tho amusement of those present. There was a very large attendance, the hall being crowded with visitors from all parts of the disti'iot.