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Kumara Times, Issue 2389, 25 April 1884, Page 2

It is notified that all objections (if any) to the Borough Burgess Roll will be heard and determined at a sitting of the Borough Council which is appointed to be held at the Council Chambers on Tuesday next, the 29th inst., when the Council will certify to Burgess List. After that time the names of all persons not having before then paid their rates cannot be added on to the said Burgess Roll, and will consequently be disfranchised as well as being liable to be summoned. The sitting for hearing objections will be held at four o’clock in the afternoon.

The inquiry into the cause of death of Daniel Macnamara was held at the Court House, Hokitika, yesterday, before J. Giles, Esq., Coroner, and the following jury : —Messrs H. L. Michel (foreman), Andrewes, Eckmann, G. Dee, Addison, Rickards, Gibson, Aitken, P. Walker, J. Satchell, W. Smith, H. Goode, C. Holmes, S. Clark, and W. Morrish, The Coroner said the circumstances attending the alleged injuries had already formed the subject of a charge in the Magistrate’s Court. A person had been charged with a criminal offence, but at that time the deceased was alive. Mr Lewis, solicitor, was present, to watch the proceedings on behalf of Cornelius Conway, who was in custody on remand, charged with assaulting the late Daniel Macnamara, at Stafford, on Easter Monday. The evidence of Dr. King went to show that there was nothing which came under his notice which would induce him to form the opinion that death was attributable to external violence. The bruising on the face 'would not aflect deceased vitally. He should consider that if he had been fighting, that would act as an exciting cause of the apoplexy, taken with the drink. The fighting would excite the system and the circulation generally. From what he knew of the case, he should decidedly say death was caused by natural causes. The Coroner summed up the evidence fully, pointing out that the jury had to determine whether the deceased died from natural causes or not. He did not see how they could do other than go by the medical evidence. There was no question that deceased died of apoplexy ; the question was whether death was accelerated by external violence. Of course, if the jury thought deceased was unjustifiably ill-treated so as to produce such a state of morbid excitement which led to his death, they would find a verdict of manslaughter. After a short retirement the jury returned with a verdict of “Death from natural causes; they also added two riders :—(l) That it is advisable that police protection should not be withdrawn during the holidays from a district like Stafford ; and (2) That the attention of the Licensing Committee should be drawn to the fact that publicans sold drink to intoxicated men.” In answer to the Coroner, the foreman said the jury’s verdict was practically that death resulted from causes disclosed in the medical evidence.

A very serious accident is reported by the Argus to have happened on Wednes' day morning to a miner, named William Penrose, who, while working in his claim near Hatter’s township, broke his leg through falling into a tail-race. As he was working as a hatter, the unfortuate man had to crawl on his hands and knees for fully 300 yards before he could hope to get assistance, and he was very much exhausted when found. Commander Edwin wired the following urgent yesterday afternoon Indications for further rise of the glass, and very cold or frosty nights. Also very low tides during the next 24 hours. The quadrille club had their first dance of the season last night in Mr Peters’ room, Dillman’s Town. Dancing started at 8 p.ra., and was kept up till midnight. Refreshments were provided, and the club must be regarded as successfully established. The next assembly will take place on Thursday evening. The right to manufacture leather hose for sluicing purposes has now been acquired by Messrs Davidson Bros., Seddou street, from Mr George Simmons ; and as consignments of leather suitable for the purpose are shortly to arrive, they are prepared to take orders and manufacture this patent leather hose from this date. they are also agents for Aspiurtlls patent jjUiiviug tipples,

In the matter of Civil Service reform the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states :—“The Ministry have begun to amalgamate heads of departments. Mr M'Kerrow, the SurveyorGeneral, has taken up the duties previously performed by the late Mr Oliver Wakefield, and Mr Marchant, Chief Provincial Surveyor, has been made Commissioner of Lands, thus doing his own work and that of Mr Holdsworth, who retires from the service. In each instance one high salary is saved to the country. Mr W. N. Werry, Under-Secretary for Railways, is to leave shortly, and, it is said, will return to England at an early date. His office will cease to exist.”

Mr F. Turner, late traveller for Messrs S. Pizzey and Co., brewers, of Hokitika, has been appointed travelling agent for the firm of Messrs Marshall and Copeland, the well-known brewers of Dunedin.