INQUEST AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1817, 17 November 1888, Page 4

INQUEST AT TEMUKA.

An inquest was li«ld in the Temnka Hotel on Thursday afternoon on the body of William Whittinghum', before K. F. Gray, Esq., Actiqjj-CoroDer, nnd Hie following jury :—W. Matthews, I. Morrie, J. Tanguey, J. Barrett, JB. Koecoe, »Dd W. Cbamborlain. Mr Morris was chosen foreman. - ; After tlie jury had viewed the body,; which wa.s lying in Dr Haya*/ private hospital, the followiug evidence was taken : James Morrison : I am a laborer ou Rangitata Island, in the employment of MrPdge, a farmer there, i rmnember the evening of Monday last, the 12th' November. I w«8 aesistingto rope some young borsos. James'RdckaDd Mr Page were with me, The deceased helped to drive the horses into the yard.' When he came to-the yard he said : "I will be on the safe side," and- stopped -outside. He stood about three yards frem the yard. The horse tiiat we had in hauled back and then tried to jump the rail. It struck the rail—a blueguin sapling about 3in. thick —with its biea6t. The rail was knocked out of its place, and, as far us I could Bee, it struck the deceased on the jiw. It knocked him down*«ith greut force, and he landed with his head on the ground. I ran and picked him up, »nd lifted him on to my knee. B'ood was flowing freely from his nose and mouth, especially from the latter. Mr Page theu sent James Bock for some brandy aud waier, and tome was"given to the deceased. He swallowed a little of it, but he never spoke. We carried him into the hut, where we gave him a little more brandy and he vomited some blood. Mr Page anl myself iheD brought him to Temuka and left him at Dr Hayes'. To the coroner: never spoke after he was struck, and did not appear to be conscious.

James Rock: I am a laborer, in the employment of Mr Page on the Rtmgitata Island; I was present when the accident happened to Wm. WhittiDghutn on Monday eveniDg laaf. I have hear.) the evidence of James Morrison, aDd can fully corroborate it. I enn add no further particulars.

John Shaw Hayes : lama duly qualified medical practitioner, redding in Temuka. Oh the ni B ht of the 12th the deceased was; brought down to me by Mr Page. He arrived at my house a little after eleven o'clock. >At Mr Page's request I took him to my hospital. He was then quite unconscious Be bad evidently received a violent blow on th« face. With my fingers I rembved two or three of his leech, which werelooeein hie moutb. I adopted all the usual remedies to try and restore consciousness, but Without success. He <ied about five o'clock on the rooming of the 14'h. There was no.'-xU'ri al - wound on the hpad : no fracture.) bone on the external part of the skull. Tliers *hk soraf< bleeding from the nose but iiouh from the ears. 1 dhgrmscd the case to be compression on the brain rosulting f ram the, effusion: of, blood, caused probably by a fracture of the base of the skull, To the foreman : Ori the 13th I trepbined, but without much hope of success. The effusion of blood was at the base of the brain. ,

This concluded thel evidence, and after tbecoroner' had briefly summed, up the Jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased,'W'lliam Whittingham, came by his deatb through an accident which occurred at Rangitata Island on the 12thNovember, and that every attention was sh7)'wn"To^ ; nje £i .redßTr^a--«.ftnsjth»-»~>J : /t»»*»j--