OTAGO.

Colonist, Issue 95, 17 September 1858, Page 3

OTAGO.

Coroner's Inquest.—On Monday; the 2nd instant, and inquest was held at the Hospital by Dr. Hulme, Coroner, on .the body of James Booker, who died while on his way from Waitaki to Bunedin. Deceased, a mason by trade, came from Nelson with sheep about 18 months ago, and hasbeen employed on Mr. Borton's station at Waitaki for nearly 11 months. On. Tuesday, the. 27th ultimo, the deceased, in company with-Mr. Marshall, started from Waitaki for Dunedin, with the intention of proceeding, by the first opportunity to Nelson, where he had some;relatives. The;following is the evidence given before the Coroner and jury:—Robert Marshall being sworn, stated that he was working with deceased at Borton's station. We started from Mr. Borton's for Dunedin on Tuesday, the 27th ultimo. Deceased did not appear to be ill. We arrived at Filleul's arid stayed there all night, and set out next morning- and reached Hastie's accommodation house, and there remained all night. From Hastie's we proceeded to Kennard's and had dinner. From Kennard's we came to within two miles of Cherry Farm, and stayed there all night in a house with, two men who were sawing for Mr. Jones... In the morning we set out for Dunedin, and about three miles this side.of the Clump of Trees deceased turned badly. He complained of a.weakness in his legs, but we still proceeded slowly till we came to the place where he was found, on the range between Flagstaff.and Snowy Mountains, when lie, said he could go no further, and did not think he would be able to reach the Halfway Bush that night. Mr. Mudie (who was travelling with us) and 1 took him to one side near a heap of stones, and remained with him till, he died, which was in about two hours,after. Deceased was>very thinly clad." We travelled on that day (Friday, 30th ultimo) about 28 miles; it was very cold and wet all/day. During, the time I was working with deceased, he used to complain frequently of his head. I did not think he was a strong man, and he used to^gay so himself. On Tuesday' we travelled 20 miles, on Wednesday 30, on Thursday 30, and on Friday about 28. We had only one good night's rest on the way. There was no shelter at the heap of stones; it was very dark, and we had no fire all night; Deceased wished Mr. Mudie, as he had a pocket book, to take charge of his money, amounting to ,£6O/78.45(1. He did so, and asked him what was to be done with it, but could get no answer, as : deceased became insensible.—Christopher Mudie, of Waitaki, stated that he joined Mr. Marshall and the deceased about six miles this side of Maruwenua on Tuesday, the 27th ultimo, and kept company with them all the way. His other evidence was similar to Marshall's. The jury, after consideration, gave the following verdict :—" That James Booker's death was occasioned by over-fatigue, scarcity of provisions and clothing, and by exposure to the inclement weather. —Otago Witness, September 7.

Getting More than they Bargained fob. —M. Poitevin, the well-known French aeronaut, has lately been making balloon ascents at Seville. A short time back he offered to the public ascents •D l?™ he calle(J "aerial pleasure train 3," that is m balloons secured by ropes. The first ascents went off very well, and he had numerous applicants lor others. In one of them which came off a few days ago the rope which held the balloon broke, and the balloon shot rapidly up. The persons who accompanidd Poitevin were so terrified' at finding themselves loose in the realms of space that they threatened to throw him out of the car. With some difficulty, however, he succeeded in pacifying them, and brought them down safely. Infallible Railway Brake.—Mismanagement r this break is so effectual that it has been known to bring the best line going to a complete Btand-still.— Punch. . •

The Philosophy op Plato.—Husband and wife.should learn to help one another, sharing and enjoying everything in common, with the same cheerful division of labor as a knife and fork ! Lady Clutterbuch. ' DKivmo: Nails.—Cut-nail3 may be driven into the hardest dry wood without bending, simply by flipping the point of the nail into oil or grease.