CORONER'S INQUEST AT PORANGAHAU.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3207, 8 October 1881, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST AT PORANGAHAU.

An inqaest was held at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Porangahau, on Thursday last, before the Coroner, Dr. Todd, and a jury, on the body of Thomas Hunt, a swagsman, who died euddenly at Blackhead on the 4th instant.

William Jackson deposed that on Sunday last he was on the road to Mr Hunter's, when he came up to the deceased sitting on his swag. He said he was going to Hunter's. After some time he complained of feeling unwell, and said he bad not bad any breakfast. He mentioned be bad been on the spree, and had come the day before from Mr Hill's

statioD, and was now on bis way fo Patea. The}' had a smoke and drink of water together. He complained of a pain m his left side. We bad dinner at, Mr Huntgrjs, wjiose eoo'k evidently knisw , deceased. We then started for Blackhead, and when opposite Mr Byan'3 he appeared to be taken wuh a fit and sai down. I endeavoured to cheer him up. We then got to Mr Hunter's boiling down establishment. I Ht a fire and fetched some water for him. He appeared better after the rest, and made some coffee which we found In the house. He also fried soifle bread in a frying pan containing fat, of which he ate Heartily: I declined ttf&ing any, as It looked iinpleaSan't. We remained all night, btit he wad very" regies?, still complaining of pain in his side, "For God's sake do not leave me; I will be all right presently." I packed up my swag and,remained b£ him; 1 then went out for about an hour, and on ffetu'riiuie found him rolling about in pain. I started for assistance, and got some castor oil, wbieb I took to him, and found him wandering in his speech, I propped him up on a bed. I went out for a few minutes, and returning found deceased in a dying state with the rattle in his throat. At once I went to Mr Ryan's, then to Mr Hunter's, coming on to Porangahau next morning.

Edward Dore deposed he had w.orked with deceased two yeara ago at Patea, and saw him at Porangahau last Sunday about 5 p.m. He was then on bis way to Hunter's. About two years ago ho told me he was 64 years'of age. Joseph Humblebee deposed he found deceased lying on the bed. He went in with the deponent William Jackson. Hβ went for the purpose of bringing the body to Porangahaut The Corbtier having summed tip, the jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes."