The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1883. INHUMAN CONDUCT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1156, 4 October 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1883. INHUMAN CONDUCT.

We have received the following letter with a request to draw special attention to its subject matter : UNFEELING CONDUCT. i TO THE EDITOR. I Dear Sib, —The moifc unfeeling thing that I have seen for a long time happened this morning in Temuka, in connection with the inquest on the child of Mr Douglas found drowned in a creek near his house. The poor parents were actually put t« the unnecessary trouble and expense of bringing the body up to a hotel in Temuka, the distance not being less than three quarters of a mile, 1 suppose to suit someone’s convenience. 1 think it a great shame, but I suppose there is no redress.—l am, etc., A Parent. Temuka, October 3rd, 1883. It was only in our last issue that we called attention to the fact that the Resident Magistrate went fishing instead of attending to the business of the Court. His action with regard to the inquest in question is another proof of his complete disregard- for anything except his own ease and pleasure. Now, where was the necessity for putting the poor parents of the deceased child to; the trouble and, annoyance of bringing the body of their child a ; distance of about three quarters of a mile for the purposes of an inquest 1 Had they not sufficient trouble on their hands without annoying them in this way ? Could not a jury have been summoned in Sod Town,and the inquest held in the house of the deceased’s father, by which course no 1 one would have been put to any extraordinary trouble 1 The conduct of the Coroner is shockingly inhuman in thus treating the people with so little consideration, for the purpose of saving himself the trouble of going down to the house. But it is characteristic of him, and consistent with his general treatment of the people of Temuka. There was a good reason besides' this why the' jury should have visited the locality of the sad occurrence. Recently Mr Douglass made a complaint to the Road Board to the effect that the creek had been dammed up* causing it to overflow. It was right that the jury should have seen to this, and attached blame, if any, to those responsible for it. But the matter was never taken into consideration at all, and there are many much dissatisfied with the inquest and the way it was carried out.