PUKEKAWA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 180, 6 June 1916, Page 3

PUKEKAWA.

CHILD'S SUDDEN DEATH

An inquest was held before the District Coroner, Mr C. Roadley, at the luakau Motel on Sunday last on the body of Isbella Annette Kushtord, tbe five-year-old daughter of Mr Henry S. Rusbford, farmer, of Pukekawa. The evidence of the mother was to the effect that on Thursday she left Auckland in company with tbe deceased en route for her husband's farm at Pukekawa. Thev remained at Mercer for the night and proceeded to Kangiriri on the following morning for the purpose of taking the launch to Opoutia landing, where she was to be met by her husband. Tbe launch arrived at the landing at about 1.30 p.m., and tbe husband met her and the child. The child was then in the best of health and got otf tbe launch and ran to her father. They then proceeded to the farm in a vehicle, tbe farm being about four miles from the landing. When the child reached home she was suffering from hoarseness and was given some Irish Moss, which eased her for the time being. Thev all retired to bed at 7 p.m. During the night the child appeared to be restless, and was taken into bed with the father and the mother and given another dose of Irish Moss. They arose at seven o'clock on Saturday morning and after breakfast the child appeared to be getting worse and the mother took her out into tbe sun and she improved She, however, became worse at mid-day. Tbe father therefore obtained a vehicle and the child waa wrapped up and the father and mother started oir tor luakau with her to obtain the services ot a doctor. When they reached Pukekawa Post Office the father went into the office and telephoned for Dr Wake nt Pnkekobe to meet him on the road. The mother remained in the trap nursing tbe child, and when tbe

father returned to the trap he noticed that the child was dead.

Henry Swift Kushford, the father of the child, corroborated. Dr Wake stated that he examined the child on tbe road between Pukekawa and Tuakau on tbe afternoon of the 3rd mat., and found that the child was dead. He bad made a post-mortem examination ot the body, which revealed that the child's organs in the lower part of the body were healthy, but the lungs were very much inflamed. He was satisfied that the cause of death was "Inflamation of the lungs."

The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the Doctor's evidence.