BLACKSTONE HILL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 314, 5 March 1875, Page 2

BLACKSTONE HILL.

(From our own correspondent.)

On Saturday last, 27th inst;,. JJ. W,J) Robinson, Esq., and a coroner's jury, heldan inquiry as to. the death of Thomas-Turn- - bull, an old resident. From the evidence " it appeared the deceased had been fighting on the previous day with one- John Clyde; but, from all accounts, the fight must have been of a harmless description. The deceased proposed that they should cease fighting, as the farm work was at a stand-still. The men thereupon shook hands—the deceased appearing all .right and laughing... Shortly afterwards some' water, with oatmeal intermixed, was handed him to drink ; he partook, and gave it to his late adversary, who partook also. Almost immediately deceased turned very pale, and sat down on the ground, remarking that " that last drink had .cooked him." He became rapidly worse, was carried into the house, and died in a few. minutes. The medical evidence disclosed fatty degeneration .of the heart, with one of the valves- ruptured, without any marks of violence whatever; and also that, in the weak state of the heart of '" deceased, death might have resulted any moment from'a blow, fall, excitement, assiduous work/or a driuk of cold- water ' when overheated or excited. The jury found a verdict of" Death from disease of the heart, in the course of nature."

The crops arc ripv-ning very irregularly; from all accounts th»»y are tip to'the averago, but harvest operations will be' protracted.

I'.ic lale rams iiave n.:ate Liilv ;ii 1.-l in keeping up the water supply, which is a befU ,• one ;h;in either of the two .past' years, during a similar sea--on. The school was opened on the Ist inst.* under the superintendance of Miss Hunter. So far the attendance has been very fair.

A movement is on • foot to establish a public library. Itis to be hoped it will be carried but, as the want of such an institution is much felt.

The Prospecting Association has not commenced operations as yet, but will do so as soon as preliminaries are settled.

At Rough Ridge Mr. Withers is preparing to re-test the Homeward Bound reel".