LOCAL NEWS.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 22, 2 June 1860, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Coroners Inquest. — An inquest was held at the Grove Hotel, W airau Town, on Monday, the 2Sth instant, before S. L. Muller, Esq., coroner, on the body of a man found in the Wairau river, about three-quarters of a mile below the Grove Hotel. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition. It was supposed to be that of a sailor, who had deserted from the Niger when at Waitohi. A bundle had been found in the Wairau river some time since, which was supposed to have belonged to the deceased ; but it contained nothing by which he could be identified. The distance between the place whore the bundle was found ancl that where the body was discovered is from 15 to 20 miles. The jury returned the following verdict:—“ That deceased died from drowning in the Wairau river, but how he came into the said river there is no evidence before the jury to show.” Freshet. The late rains have caused considerable freshes in the rivers, which, to some extent, have interrupted traffic. We have not heard of any serious damage being done. The little foot bridge near the school-house, Blenheim, was floated down as far as Mr. Sinclair’s punt, and we hear that a small quantity of Indian corn, at the Bush, belonging to the natives, has been washed away.