Suicide of Hon. W. Larnach.

Manawatu Herald, 13 October 1898, Page 3

Suicide of Hon. W. Larnach.

A gloom was cast over Parliament last night by the discovery that the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, C.M.G., the member for Tuapeka, had committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a revolver. For some time past the Hon. Mr Larnach had appeared to be in somewhat poor spirits, and had been heard to complain that he found his Parliamentary duties very onerous. There was nothing in his words or actions, however, to indicate that he found the burden of life insupportable, and the news of his suicide came as a great shock th his fellow-members. Yesterday Mr Larnach carried out his Parliamentary duties as usual, and was engaged during the morning on the Goldfields Committee, in which he has always taken a great interest and of which he has been a prominent member for many years. About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon Mr E. W. Kane, Bill Reader to the House of Representatives, saw him going into J Committee-room, and, after exchanging a few words, Mr Larnach went into the room, and Mr Kane heard him lock the door. From that moment nothing more was seen or heard of him until his dead body was discovered. As to the cause of the suicide, nothing is known. Members who attended the meeting of the Goldfields Committee yesterday morning noticed that Mr Larnach was more than usually quiet and reserved, and took very little interest in what was going on; but after lunch, in reply to a question as to his health, he described himself as being " very fit indeed." From further accounts it is clear that this sanguine mood was speedily succeeded by one of depression. About: 3.30 Mr Parata, the member for the Southern Maori district, met him in the Assembly library, when Mr Larnach engaged in conversation, and appeared ordinarily i cheerful. A little later the deceased ] received some letters by the Southern j mail that had just been delivered, and j he was observed to be somewhat dis- j turbed while perusing" and replying to these. About 4 o'clock he left the ' library and went upstairs, entering j committee-room J, as already stated, 1 and locked the door behind him. — N.Z. ] " Times." i