INQUESTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 37

INQUESTS.

AUCKLAND, August 5. An inquest was held at the hospital this afternoon on the body of Mary Ann Blackburn, of Onehunga, who died on tn* operating table while being operated on for goitre. [ Dr Stanley A. Bull said he had made a post mortem examination. The causa of death was syncope, caused principally by the disease from which deceased was suffering, and possibly in part by the chloroform. The operation proposed waa a common one, and was the mildest form of operative treatment applied to that disease. The operation was skilfully perk-rmed, and had nothing directly to do with the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict that deatn had resulted from misadventure. GISBORNE, August 5. Kn inquest on the body of Edwin Jair.ea ' Norton, who was drowned in the Turauaanui River, was held to-day. The deceased liad been drinking heavily. A verdict of found drowned was returned. _ Th» coroner (Mr W. A. Baiton) said the circumstances "of the man's death wera deplorable. Some person was to blame, and he urged the police to make the fulles* investigations. ™,^,. T . . c WELLINGTON, August 5. At the inquest on Harry Thompson, whose body was found in the harbour, medical evidence was given to the effect that the wound in deceased's neck was in an unusual position to be caused by, a fall It was more likely the result* of a blow, which, if severe would causa unconsciousness. The condition of tha body showed that deceased was unconscious when the drowning took place The verdict was that death was due t« drowning, but there was no evidence tor show how deceased got into the water. An inquest was held before Mr H. V, Widdowson, coroner, at the Morgue on the 4th inst. touching the death of Harneti Dickson, who was found dead at her home in Kaikorai on Tuesday evening. Dr Gordon Macdonald stated that he hatl known deceased for a number of years, and had attended her professionally i of various minor ailments. On the previous evening witness was called to deceased * house, and found her dead. He had heldj a post mortem examination, and was of tn« opinion that heart failure, due to the calcareous degeneration of the heart, was the cause of death. ,■,,-, j Archibald Dickson, husband of deceased, stated that he had been married for over 22 years. Deceased was 62 years of age, and was a native of England. They were in comfortable circumstances. During the past few weeks deceased had complained of a pain in the left side, but did not think it worth while consulting a doctor. About; half an hour after retiring on Tuesday evening witness heard deceased moan, and lit the candle and found her dead. A verdict of death from heart failur'c was returned.

Thar© are quila a thousand inventort working in- this country at the aerial problem.—Mr Maples, hon. secretary of tim British Aerial Leagua