Inquesis.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 233, 23 August 1848, Page 2

Inquesis .

Yesterday an inquest was held by Dr. Davies, Coroner, at the Auckland Anns, to inquiie into the death of Mat hew Shaw, boot and shoe maker, Queen street, who had been discoveied doad in bed that morning. Fioin the evidence of Thos. Shaw, son of the deceased, it appeared that his father had been spending the pievious evening with Mr. Wilson, baker—that he had vwited the Theatre ; after which he had gone back to Wilson's, where he drank a glass of rum ; returned home and went to bed about one o'clock. Witness got up about sunrise, and unwilling to disturb his fither, went out and took a walk. When he called his father to come to breakfast, he received no reply. Approached the bed and found him cold and dead. His father was elevated, not very tipsy, when he retired to iest.— — Wilson, baker, stated that deceased had been in'his company nearly all the evening. He appeared to be in his usual health. D:d not complain, although heobseived him put his hand to his chest and have an ugly cough. They had four glasses of hot whiskey toddy together. He went to the] Theatre. Did.not bee deceased there; but, when the play was ovei, he came to his, Wilson's, house, where they had a glass of rum and some biscuit and jam. Deceased was hearty, but by no means druuk. — Mr. S. H. Ford, surgeon, was called upon to inspect the body. From its general appearance, and the previous history of the case, had no doubt that disease of the heart .was the cause of death. Deceased had come to Auckland for the benefit of his health. He was about fifty-five years of age. The Jury leturned a verdict, " Died from natural causes." A previous inquest was held, last week, at Onebunga, on the body of Robert Pi ince Hill. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that on Tuesday week, the deceased was steering the boatof S. La wry, on her passage from Onehunga to Karangahape. About midway, Lawry hailed the barge Flower of Kent, and the deceased was in the act of singing out to one of her men, " Beecham, ahoy " when, being on his legs, he lost his balance, and fell backwards overboard, carrying the tiller along with him. The wind was very rough at the time, but Lawry hauled alt the inizen sheet, brought the boat's head to the wind, and launched his dingy with great expedition. Deceahed laid bold of the dingy, but after a snott while relaxed his grasp. Law ry then seized him and supported him, ttie Flowerof Kent sending her boat, and lowing Lawiy and deceased to the shore. Here they tried to get the water out of his bod>, alter which they conveyed it on board the boat, stripping it and rubbing the breast and soles of the feet with brandy, and wrapping the body in blankets 5 but all m vuin, deceased, only uttering

one or t«o faint moans. It was about ten minutes ere the punt arrived within reach of deceased, and then he had just sufficient strength to lay hold of it. Deceased was sober at the lime of the accident. Verdict—" Accidental death by drowning."