DEATHS OF OLD SETTLERS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1014, 25 September 1877, Page 3

DEATHS OF OLD SETTLERS.

[fhom the peess.J the laie me. hugh buchanan

It is with very much regret that we record the death of Mr Hugh Buchanan, for many years a resident on the Peninsula. _ Mr Buchanan's connection with the Peninsula dates from a very early period of its history, and since then he has filled many important offices in connection with if. He first established himself at Ikolaki, where for some years he had a whaling station, but latterly he has resided in a pretty spot at the head of Lake Forsyth, where he carried on agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and where he wasalways ready to dispense hospitality. Tin deceased gentleman represented the Peninsula in the Provincial Council up to the time of its abolition, and was always most regular in

his attendance. He was also for many years President of the Banks' Peninsula Pastoral Association, and Chairman of the Little River Road Board. In the former capacity lie was untiring in his efforts to promote the interests of agriculture, and indeed everything connected with the Peninsula. In his unobtrusive way the late Mr Buchanan did a great deal of good, and he will be much missed. TUE LATE CAPTAIN WILSON. The intelligence of the death of Captain Wilson yesterday morning was so unexpected and sudden as scarcely to bo believed. It was however true, the deceased gentleman having been seized with a fit of apoplexy, which proved fatal. Captain Wilson was for some time in command of the steamer White Swan, trading between the New Zealand ports, but since his residence on shore he has been following the profession of medical galvanism. He was for some time in charge of the Fire Brigade here, and has always taken a leading position in local politics. An inquest was held at the Hospital, before Mr Coward, the coroner, and a jury, at five p.m., when the following evidence was taken: George R. B. Wilson —I am son of the deceased. My father was 57 years of age. So far as I know he was in a fair state of health recently. I was with him the whole of yesterday until 10 o'clock last night. He seemed then to be rather desponding in mind, and had been so for the last two months, but he was not more so than he has been for some time past. I left him to go to bed, and bade him good-night, and as the paper-hangers were to come in the morning he asked me whether he would call me, and I said he might do so at five. I was awake at that hour, and not heuring him thought he wanted rest, and did not disturb him. At six o'clock I got up, and when I went in I saw him lying on the floor with his face downwards On the pillow. He was quite stiff, but warm round the top part of the shoulders. I saw at a glance there was no hope. He had taken very little to eat yesterday. He used to prescribe for himself, and had been troubled with diarrhoea. He was out twice during the evening. I do not know whether he took any medicine on this occasion, but he had been in the habit of taking laudanum for the complaint from which he was suffering. My father would not sleep in the same room as mother as he used to disturb her. She last heard him moving at 4 o'clock, and until that hour she could hear that he was sleeping soundly. Dr. Thomas Bell Hay —I made the postmortem examination of deceased to-day. The brain was very much congested, and a large quantity of blood was effused on the surface of the brain. The ventricles were full of serum. The left lung was adherent throughout. The right lung was healthy, and the heart was also healthy. The stomach contained about an ounce and a half of thick yellow fluid, and smelt strongly of rhubarb. The stomach itself was healthy, and so were the kidneys and liver. My opinion is that death was caused by apoplexy. By the Foreman—The cause of the apoplexy could not be traced. It generally comes.from extra exertion. The Coroner said he thought it would be unnecessary to call Mrs Wilson. The jury at once returned a verdict of " Died from natural causes." THE LATE MB GEORGE HOLMES. The funeral of the late Mr George Holmes took place yesterday, and was largely attended, all classes of the community being represented.