NORMANBY.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 402, 22 February 1879, Page 2

NORMANBY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

An inquest was held here on Tuesday last, by the Coroner (Captain Wray), on the body of a German named Ferdinand Paul, who died from the effects of a blow on the head given him by his half-brother Carl Gung'ale on Sunday, the 26th January last. A jury having beon sworn in, and Air Daniel McGregor chosen as foreman, proceeded to view the body and the following evidence was then given which I will condense. It seems that on the da}' mentioned Paul and Gungale accompanied by two others were taking a dray towards the Mountain Road where Carl was working if not the others and some dispute arose about stopping for some of the provisions which Carl said they ought to have with them and the other refusing. A struggle took place for the mastery of the horse and finally the deceased taking up a piece of broken rail struck Carl across the head. At this Carl took up the rail and throwing it at deceased struck him on the head and. knocked him down. Deceased got up and after some further wrangling returned to Normanby, the other going on up the Mountain Road. It was elicited in the examination by Mr Farrington, Solicitor, who was watching the case for the prisoner that for a whole week he received no medical attendance whatever but at the end of that time Dr Percy of Carlyle was called in and found the patieut ■ jn , a very low and sinking state. He applied what remedies were requisite, but the-formation of an abscess in the brain soon took away all chance of recovery. Dr Percy distinctly said that with proper care and simply attending to the cleansing of the wound there would have been every chance of his recovery, he had, he said frequently to complain of the want of cleanliness about the patient. After an enquiry lasting some six hours the jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter, but with a rider expressing their sense of the amount of provocation that the accused had received. As the case will now come before the higher Courts, I can at present say no more as to its merits except that hail was accepted. Mr Inspector Bullen attended from New Plymouth as a species of Crown Prosecutor, but I am really ignorant of what these gentlemen’s duties may be in those matters.- I should say that the accused had been arrested by the police and bailed out previously to the Inquest. We have been very busy here lately, and the town crowded with drays and carts of all descriptions with grass seed from the Plains; and the place filled with natives. The negotiations between them and Mr Taplin were for some reason broken off, and Mr England who has recently commenced business here as a storekeeper is now purchasing, and will I hear get a large quantity. We are steadily advancing in the way of buildings. W. Gibson’s store which has been long delayed for want of material is now being .proceeeded with and will I think shortly be completed and that with Mr England’s .new store And. dwelling house will make a good finish to that end of the street."' - ,

The new School Committee have ou their duties! Mr England having been elected chairman in place of Mr Gibson who retired and who has taken the greatest, care and trouble to advance tile , interests* of the school, and as chairman of the first Committee working under the new act badgreat difficulties to .contend .with* I shall. I think have more to say on this and; our infant Library &c. oh another occasion.