NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 699, 15 September 1876, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Inquest at Gust. —On Thursday an inquest was held before C. Dudley, Esq, coroner, and a jury, of which Mr T. B. Howson was foreman, at O’Shannessey’s Gust Hotel, touching the death of John Roach, who was found dead in the Road Board office on Tuesday. T. Clancy stated, on the 12th he saw deceased in good health at 8 a.m, but he was slightly under the influence of drink. Deceased went after that and purchased a bottle of whisky, and laid down in the office. W. Cromie, blacksmith, gave evidence that he was told deceased was ill in the Road Board office. He went and found him dead. Dr Ovenden, who had made a post mortem examination of the body, stated that he found the cavity of the heart greatly gorged with blood, and his opinion was that death was the result of an apoplectic fit. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from apoplexy. Subsequently a subscription list w&i handed round, and about £9 subscribed for deowfied’a widow and family.

Parochial Mission. A meeting of clergymen and laymen was held at the College Library on Wednesday, under the presidency of the B’shop, for the purpose of taking into consideration the mission which it is purposed to bold in the diocese. Alter much discussion an influential committee, consisting of seven clergymen and seven laymen, was appointed, with power to add to their number, to make all necessary arrangements for the holding of the mission. Sheep Worrying.— For some time past numerous instances have occurred of dogs worrying sheep during the night time in Hagley park, and in some paddocks in the Papanui district, A case of this kind was brought yesterday in the Resident Magistrate’s Court by Mr R, Wilkin against Mr W, Clarke, for £3 lls, damage done to some of plaintiff’s sheep in the park, which were worried and injured by defendant’s dog. Judgment was given for the amount claimed, with 18s 6d costs of witnesses. Sudden Death.—A man named John Williams, who had been employed as a labourer at Cashmere, died at the Hospital on Wednesday night. He had been suffering from asthma for some time past, and took suddenly ill on Wednesday morning, becoming gradually worse, and was unconscious about an hour afterwards. He was brought into the Hospital, where he died about 10.30 p.ra same night. Deceased was about fortyfive years of age, strong and healthy looking, and had served in the Royaljj Marines in India.

Sumner Library. — A meeting of the residents of Sumner for the purpose of establishing a public library was held on Tuesday last. It was stated that the Government had offered a grant of £SO for the purchase of books. The various officers were appointed for the library, and a subcommittee appointed to select books, &c. The school committee have granted permission for a bookcase to be placed in the schoolroom. The library is expected to be open to the public in about a week or ten days, and will prove a great boon to the residents of Sumner. A.O.F.—The district officers of the Ancient Order of Foresters, consisting of DO.R. Bro Weybourne, D.S.C.Ii. Bro Ablett, D.T, Bro Crooks, and D.S. Bro Ness, together with several members of Court Star of Canterbury, opened a new court at Courtenay on Monday last. The ceremony took place in the district library, which had been kindly lent for the occasion. Several gentlemen were initiated as members, after which the D.C.R. proceeded to instal the first officers of the new court. They were as follows : C.R, Rro Cox; S.C.R, Bro Lead; secretary, Bro Bedford ; treasurer, Bro McNae ; S.W, Bro J. Lilly; J.W, Bro H. McNae ; S.B, Bro W. Gunnion; J.B, Bro T, Anson, After some discussion, it was resolved to fix the meetings for the second Monday in each month. The D.S, Bro Ness, having read one the lectures of the order, the court was closed in due form.

Bazaar, —A bazaar of fancy and useful articles of needlework, &c, was opened yesterday, in the Durham street schoolroom. The ladies have for some time past been very zealous in their efforts, and tho result was a very capital collection. The various stalls were nicely decorated, and the room presented quite a gay appearance. The ladies in charge of the fancy goods stalls were Meadames Morley, Berry, Mein, Harris, Dawson, and Ritchie. Mesdames Goodison and Martin presided over the refreshment portion, where there was a very tempting display. The object of the bazaar is to augment the funds of the East belt Wesleyan Church. During the evening some musical selections were nicely played. The bazaar will be resumed this evening at 6 p.m, when the goods remaining will be disposed of at an alarming sacrifice. INQUEST. —An inquest was held yesterday at the Hospital, before J. W. S. Coward, Esq, coroner, on the body of C, C. Choates, who cut his throat with a razor on last Tuesday morning. The evidence of Mrs Lodge, landlady of the Temperance Board-ing-house, where deceased had been living, went to show that he was reserved, of eccentric habits, but a very sober man. He bad been desponding for some time past through not being able to obtain employment. Her attention wns called on Tuesday morning to a moaning noise proceeding from deceased’s room, and when she went up stairs the door was found to be fastened, and after assistance had been obtained it was forced open with a spade. Mr Smalley gave evidence of having forced the door open, when he saw deceased lying on the bed, which was covered with blood, and a case on the bed containing a razor, which he removed. Mr Paul Pierson deposed to being awukened on that morning by hearing a man talking to himself in a peculiar manner in a room near to him. He went down stairs and asked who slept there. Afterwards he returned and tapped at the door, when decased asked him what he wanted, and told him to go away. Deceased was using very strong language when speaking to himself, and though he had been nine months living in the house with him, he had never heard him use such expressions before. Constable Reilly stated that after being called he found deceased lying on his face on the bed with his throat cut. The bed was covered with blood, and an open razor was lying on the floor. Remained there till medical aid arrived, and after the wound was sewed up the man was removed to the hospital. Mrs 0, Greening, residing at Addington, stated that she had identified deceased that morning as C. 0. Choates, to whom she was related by marriage. Deceased came to New Zealand about three years ago, but she did not know to what part. She and her husband arrived in New Zealand about a year afterwards, and though making enquiries since, had been unable to hear anything about deceased until she saw his name in the paper. His friends had wished her to try and find him as, by his mother’s death, he had been left about £l5O. He was of an eccentric disposition and peculiar temperament when at home. The jury retui ned a verdict of “Died from the effects of the wound in the throat, inflicted while in a state of temporary insanity.”