INQUEST AT THE RAKAIA.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1827, 30 December 1879, Page 2

INQUEST AT THE RAKAIA.

An inquest was held at the Biilway Hotel, Bakaia, before Dr. Trevor, on the body of Richard Like, the lad who was thrown from the horse he was riding in the hack race at the South Bakaia Sports on Boxing Day. Mr Caleb Tucker was chosen foreman of the jury. Philip Edward Thoreau, constable stationed at Bakaia, said—l was on duty at the sports held on Boxing Day. Saw deceased riding a horse- in the hack race. Saw his horse stumble. Deceased fell over the horse's head, and the horse rolled over him. With the assistance oE several others, removed him to his father's honee. He was alive when picked up, but insemible. I telegraphed to Ashburton for medical assistance. I last saw him alive at 1 45 a.m. on Saturday, 27th December. I saw the race. It was a perfectly fair race. Consider the occurrence purely the result of an accident. The ground, as a whole, was quite fit for holding races on. Charles Lake deposed—l am a livery stable kt eper at Bakaia. Deceased was my son. He was riding in the hack race on Friday last. I did not see him fall. I was on the course. I did not see him picked up. I saw him brought by where I was standing. He was insensible. He was taken to my house. Dr. Boss was sent for and attended him. He never rallied. He died at 3.45 a.m. on Saturday. I havo every reason to believe that his death was purely occidental. I think the race was perfectly fair. The deceased was a very good rider. The horse was perfectly quiet. It was not sound, but I never knew him to stumble. Ido not think the course was a good one. There was too little room, and the turns were too sharp. I quite believe those things sufficient to cause an accident. The horses had to pass through gaps in the fences. I believe the accident happened near one of the sharp turns. This being all the evidence, the coroner summed up, when the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." The coroner here read Dr. Bess' certificate, which stated the cause of death to be compression of the train, caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the skull.