Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1380, 20 July 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1872.

There was no business at the Rux\: dent Magistrate's Court this morning. The steamer Keera, which arrived from Wellington last night, was tho bearer of the English Mail via Suez. The California!) mail steamer —now |ive days overdue—does not appear to. have made her appearance at Auckland up to the present time. The Hon. Resident Minister has accepted a tender foi the construction of quarantine b.anacks on Ripa Island, Lyttelton harbor. The successful tenderers aie a Dunedin firm, who. c e tender was ,£603 under the lowest Canterbury Render. The Eev. L. Moore having intimated his. intention to resign the incumbency of the Church of England, Papanui (Christchurch), a requisition asking him to reconsider his decision has be.cn influential ly and numerously signed in the district. The ranges at 'he back of Mount Rochfort t near Westport, are being thoroughly prospected foi auriferous quartz reef*, vyhich, are believed }p that quarter. .A -man, named Knight, and a boy, been arrested in New South Wales W\\\& winevV ar^ratus.

INQUEST,

An inquest was held at 10 a m. to-day, at the Napier Hotel, before S. Begg, Esq., Hospital Coroner, on the body of John Whitafeer, then and there lying dead. Mr J. Lear was appointed foreman of the jury. The jury having viewed the body, evidence was taken to the following effect : Thomas Scully, Inspector of Police, deposed : About 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the deceased came to me in town and gave me a letter from .Dr. Todd, slating that the bearer was suffering from the premonitory symptoms of delriium tremens, and recommending me to get him admitted into the hospital before he got worse. I obtained an order, and *ent him there. He seemed to me perfectly rational at the time, and did not show any signs of being under the influence of drink. Next morning J received intimation of his escape from the hospital, Every search was made by the police, but without result; and I saw no more of him till I identified his body here. Sergt. John Farmer deposed ; On the 17th inst. I took the deceased to the hospital, as instructed by the Inspector, and handed him over to Mr Troy. I conversed with him; he seemed quite rational, and I ,saw nothing the matter with him. J. received information of his escape next day. Yesterday, about 2 p.m , 1 heard that a body had been found on the beach. I went and identified it as the body of the man 1 had taken to the hospital, I brought it to the Napier Hotel. Michael Troy deposed; On the 17th inst., shortly before 5 p.m., the deceased was brought to the hospital by Sergt. Farmer. Previous to admitting him, L held a conversation with him; he seemed quite rational, and did not show any signs of delirium tremens. He had a good tea, and before he went to bed I gave him about 25 drops of laudunum in a of water. Between 3 and 4 a.m., hearing a knocking in his room, L aioso and went to him. J gave him another draught, myself, and lighted a tire in the kitchen to make him some tea. .1 also made a fire in his ward. After making the tea, 1 went back to the ward, and found Whitaker standing up, having thrown up his draught. I gave half-au ounce of brandy in water, v\ ith ten drops of laudanum. Having taken it, he said " I am all right now, that will settle my stomach," and went bao.k to bed. I said [ would bring him something more directly, and lelt the room. Immediately after, T heard a door shut, and going back found he had gone. 1 got a lantern and searched the premises; I then went into town and informed the police man on duty. He said he had seen a man run tovards the beach. We searched the beach, but could find no trace of him. i continued to make diligent search, but saw him no more till I identified his body Constable Timothy Flanagan deposed: About 5 20 a.m. on Thursday, being under Holder's \eranda, I saw a man running very fast down Shakespeareroad I asked him what was up, but he did not reply. I heard him mutter something as he went on. He seemed to have white trousers on but it was too dark to tell. He ran round Robinson's corner, down Browning street towards the sea. J followed as far as Large apd Townley's, but saw nothing of him. About, five minutes after Mr Troy told me that a man had escaped from the hospital. We searched the beach as far as the Immigration Bar racks, but without effect. The Rev. H. B. Redstone deposed : Yesterday, a* I was riding along the beach towards Napier, about half-a-mile this side of the toll gate, I saw the dead body of a man which had been washed up by the surf. It was naked, except a piece of a stocking on one foot. I hastened to town and informed Mr Scully The body now lying here is the same. When I saw it, it was tying on its Iwck, with the hands crossed. The jury returned a verdict of '• Foimd drowned," with a r»der to the effect that when he lpft the hospital the deceased was laboring under a menra.l delusion..