WAIROA NOTES

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 215, 17 September 1901, Page 4

WAIROA NOTES

i Time- Correspon&ent. • An inquest was held on the body of -Richard Thomas Mcßobcrts. at his residence. Hurumua. Wairoa. oil September o. Mr J. \Y. Sargis son. Coroner, presided. Tae following wue the iury empanelled: Messis Sargent (ioremau i, Cosgrove, | Cram. Carroll, (.'arter. Salmon. Auer viewing ilie body the following evidence wa-? taken : - id lien .\lcltul)ei-ts sworn. >aitb : I aiu • the wiie of deceased, lie had complained [ iur some time of not being well. Alter • breakfast on the morning of his death he j I complained ot a soreness in his left leg. j ! from the heel upwards, but alter .1 while 1 ■ he seemed to get better, and went through j j his duties of teaching up till i- o’clock, ] j after which he found the pain had shifted j •to the right ieg. Shorth after fie coin- | ! plained of a pain m the chest-, tins pain j being an old complaint. About breakfast I time lie mentioned that he iuul obtained 1 auiue medicine Iroin the ciiemist at i \\’airoa, whicii lie had to note before • meals. L>id not see him take the medicine. 1 but inferred he had -.one so. as ho comj plained about a bitter taste utter taking ! it. The bottle produced i* the same incuterne as deceased pvoeiued from the j cheini>i. Shortly after decease d coin-

plained ui feeiiug eoid, and went to he j down. I then went Io gi-t sonic uiiilt tor domestic puvpo?.-*. oiler which 1 looked into the room where deceased was lying and asked hnn ii In- would like something to cal. lie Mated he would take some toast, lie mjuestcd me to close the door, ns he felt the draught cold. 1 then prepared dinner lor the ianmv. alter wide!) ! or mailt the toast tor deceased. On going again to the room l found ttie paper lie had been reading, ii was lying cm tile.flour, and deceased wtts King on Ids sid< w ith in-, arm under ids lace. 1 ! Went into tiie room, and put my hand on ; him. shaking him. and calling him by name two or three times, but got no rei spouse. I then put mv arm under his nick, and tonnd lie was dead, the body i then being perfectly warm. I .gave the j alarm to my daughters, and one or two i others who were about at the time. Its tile holier- : 1 eamiol say when oci erased had receive*.! any medicat atieii.i-

anee. lfv j dremnn : 1 lecoa t b obtained tare medicine produced from the chemist at Wairott on September old, the day pro- . viou.-s. I By the Coroner: it. was about one hour ; after deceased went to lie down that 1 I found him dead. .)oiln id. Somerville sworn, saiih : l am I resident medical practitioner residing at i Wairott. I have c mini tied the body of dc* j ceased, and lintl that his death was ; caused by fatty degeitctalion •->' the heart. Xlic eouditiuu’of tlic heart was sufficient ; to cause sudden death. The condition had ] probably lasted for several years, and is a usual condition met with in people of old a"c. Tile body was fairly well nourished.

and from appearances deceased could not

have been dead more limn twenty-four hours. Ileeeased had not called on me for medical advice for the past six years. ]Sv tiie L’oiice: t could not say of what ! ingredients the medicine produced was ! composed. liy a Juror: The mixture in my opinion was pel teeth harmless, and would not bo likely to hasten death. The Jury without retiring brought in a verdict with the medical evidence given, that deceased died from natural causes, namely, fatty degeneration of the heart. The'funeral of the late Mr ii. T. Mclioborts took place on the -Ith iust-., and was followed to the Wairoa cemetery by a number ut friends ironi all parts. The monthly meeting ol the School Committee look place on September did. The following members were present: Dr i Somerville (Chairman), Itev. M. Butter- ! Held |Secretary). Messrs Torr, Mayo, and Sargissou. The Chairman stated that leave of absence had been granted to MrCaughloy from the Education Board to attend the i military examination at Napier.

A great deal of correspondence was read from the Education Board, covering communications form the Department of Education, Wellington, re grant for books to Native pupils. The correspondence tended to show that the headmaster 'had | an unsatisfactory manner in cheeking the issue of books, and one communication withdrew the grant altogether. The Secretary explained the method used by Mr Noilfin checking hooks, but the trouble was that Mr Neill's dates did not correspond with Mr Smith's accounts, The committee thought it was a very unsatisfactory way for Mr Smith lo allow the account. to run K> months. The Chairman stated that the .Department owed Mr Smith Edo, and he would have to get it. The detailed account had been sent down, and the result was stoppage of the grant. Mr 11. Neill staled that the withdrawal of the books would seriously injure the attendance, and tie thought the committee should write lo Messrs ,]. Carroll and AVi I’ci'O on the matter. The commil tee decided to act on Mr Neill’s suggestion. The headmaster's report is as follows: Notwithstanding the prevalence of intiuem.a, the attendance has kept up fairly well, and a decided increase should he shown next quarter. ft- must be gratifying to your committee that the Board have decided to continue the services of Mr Caughley. 1 enclose a list of attendances. The boys have got all the spare ground dug up ready for sowing and planting. Attendance for month 170.7 u. The following accounts were passed for payment : Guardian 6s (id, Mr Mayo <£l 18s. The Chairman and Mr G. Mayo were appointed a visiting committee for the month.