SUDDEN DEATH AT NGAIRE.

Patea Mail, 17 April 1882, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATH AT NGAIRE.

The Wanganui Herald says : : The sad news i cached town on Saturday morning that Mr Frank Parkes had died suddenly at his newly acquired property in the Ngaire district. The property had been purchased recently for young Mr Parkes, and both father and son proceeded to the land to commence the work of settlement. From the meagre information to hand we learn that Mr Parkes was out in the bush pigeon shooting, and had just killed a bird when he suddenly staggered and fell down, expiring immediately. The cause of death was heart disease, to whicli he had been a martyr for some time. Prior to going up the country Mr Parkes had been cautioned by his medical adviser to avoid all excitement or the consequences might be serious. Mr Parkes was one of Wanganui’s oldest residents, and possibly no man was more respected. His brother and himself have been land marks in this district, their names being the synonym for steady industry and uprightness of character. The bereaved family have the heartfelt sympathy of the whole district, who will mourn with them the loss of an affectionate parent - and a sterling colonist. The Chronicle says: The deceased reached Hawera on Thursday evening, feeling very ill. He stayed at Hawera for the night, but wakened at about midnight in extreme pain, which continued till morning. He felt so ill that, as he afterwards informed his brother-in-law, Mr Wright, he never expected to reach the railway station at Hawera. Ho did so, however, and travelled „bj railway to Eltham, the nearest station to Wright’s abode. At Eltham he was met by his son and Mr Wright, and proceeded on horseback to his destination, about three miles from the railway station,.the others accompanying him on foot. Having travelled by the early train from Hawera, it was only 9 o’clock in the morning when they arrived at Mr Wright’s. During the day Mr Parkes continued to feel very ill, hut towards evening he feltsomewhat better, and noticing some pigeons in the immediate vicinity of the whare, he fired at and shot one, and it was dhis circumstance which gave rise to a report that Mr Parkes’s death was in some way connected with pigeon-shooting. As tea-time was approaching, young Mr Parkes occupied himself in preparing the evening meal, while his father seated himself on the bunk in the whare, reading the newspaper. After a few minutes absence, young Parkes found his father lying on the floor apparently quite dead, and it was at once evident that death must have ensued instantaneouly,. and without a struggle.