OHINEMURI.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3059, 4 December 1878, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

(fbom oub own cobbespondent.)

Paeboa, 2nd December

An inquest was held this afternoon on the body «f a man named Taylor, who died at Opukeko yesterday after a very brief illness. Dr. Kilgour came up from the Thames, and acied as Coroner. A respectable jury was sworn in, of whom Mr J. Phillips, senr., was chosen to be Foreman. The following evidence was taken :— John Smith, sworn, deposed—l am a laborer residing at Opukeko. I have known the deceased for some considerable < time! He. slept with 1 me in Mr Thorp's bakehouse on Friday night. I last saw him on Saturday morning about 11 o'clock. He then seemed in batter spirits, He got the loan of a pipe, and laced his boots. He then went away gaying that he felt a little better than he • , did tftae night before, as he had got a betteV night's rest.' He complained of having been troubled with the mosqmtoes where he usually slept. He did not tell me that he had taken medicine. By the Foreman—He did not complain to me of having felt any particular pain ; previously. , By a Juror—l always thought him to be rather simple minded, lie bad not been drinking. John W. Thorp, sworn, deposed—l am a. settler, residing afc Ohinemuri. The deceased has been in my employ over twelve months off and on. During that . time he has enjoyed tolerably good health. When he felt unwell he would, take a 1 spell. He suffered from bad teeth. He told me that he had been in the hospital in Auckland for fester and ague, contracted r jW,hile working in the . Waikato Swamp, and had lost most of his teeth while there. He had previously been .kicked in the jaw by a cow, and had difficulty in digesting his food. A week ago I saw him lying down in'a place he had rigged up for shelter near where he worked. •In reply to my. enquiry he said he only felt tiijed. On Tuesday I- again saw him lying down, and said he had better take some medicine. I made him tip two powders, but he did not take any till the., Wednesday.. One powder con- ■■- tamed fgr. calomel, igr. blue pill, a little James' powder, and a little epececuanha. The other powder" 1 was composed of bitter aloe, rhubarb and cream of tartar. I use '. . thY same mixtures mytfelf. Ido not know whether, he took them both or not. I asked him, but he did,not answer, which, however,; was nothing unusual. He was of a wry peculiar disposition. Sometimes he spbke in a wandering kind of manner,' and at frther times he was quite rational. H« seefced better afterwards, but spoke once about its being " all up the spout" /•with hijM. Oh Friday evening, as he did / not return to his usual dwelling place, I •' felt ranxibus, and went with'a Native boy to" look; ufbfi /him. We found him lying down in he had rigged up, and he ,sjaid|i^ljlhQ'Ught he would 'sleep there for,tJie'vßn % .vl persuaded him to come up andpleep in the bakehouse with Smith, • the, previous witness. He had breakfast next morning and went to his work. I saw himat * distance in the evening when he ; was returninghome. Yesterday morning (Sunday) I saw him. He was sitting on (the his bunk trying to shake off ; l'&f&i>oo'6i' *n# trousers. I took them off v*^i|^9k|d him what was the matter. He v^en|w4'is though be could not speak, and 'Cj^i^tef ,|o fiis head, I made him as comttorta^ll^as I could, but he was very rest- ( ie»^ ,vs[e kept getting up and picking .at thiDgß. He seemed delirious, and made a peculiar noise, but sdid not speak. As I felt alarmed I called my brother Alfred and Mr Bramley to come and see him. My brother and I considered it ' advisable to give him a sleeping draught composed .of 30 drops of laudanum and 30 drops of sweet spirit of nitre, as he felt feverish." He spilt a little of. it, but took the greater part. It had no effect. Mr Bramley told me that while I was r away r getting T'ihe medicine, he had been outside several •', Vfciixjes tryingto micturate. He did so "again, taking the draught. His eye« , were^xolli.ng wildly and he threw his 'things,about. I had to go down the field j an,d asked, John Smith .to keep an eye on the old man. I did not see- him again' alive. Smith called out to me, and I . arrived a few minutes after death. That was about 1 o'clock yesterday, about two "■ hours after I gave him the sleeping draught. By a Juror—l do not know the, cause of death. I fancy it was either caused by sunstroke or general debility. I do not attribute it to foul play. By Sergt. Itusseil—l have been in the habit of prescribing medicines for about . 20 years, principally for Maoris. I do not think that 30 drops of laudanum was too much for a person in the state that deceased was. I go by the directions of '•■-» a medical book I have..

John Bratnley. sworn, deposed—l am « bootmaker residing at Paeroa. I have known the deceased for about two years.. He did not appear to be a strong n>hn,' but was able to work. Ido not know of any illness that he had during that time. I looked upon him as being deficient in intelligence. I had not seen him lately until yesterday morning, when I went with Mr Tlsorp to see him. He. was lying on his bunk, and was looking very ill. He was not able to speak, and was very restless. I thought he ought to havp some medicine, and remained with him while the Messrs Tborp went to get somethine. I afterwards helped them to give him a'draught, but I do not know what it contained. He still continued very restless, and I remained \vith him for about -half an hour, and then returned to Paeroa. I neTer saw him alive again. ]3t Sergeant Bus sell—Before the medicine" was given him he was in a very weak state.' He could not speak and seemed to have lost his senses. Albert Kussell, sworn, deposed —I am a Sergennt of Police, stationed at Paeroa. About half-past two o'clock yesterday afternoon I was informed by John Smith that a man named Taylor whohad been in Mr Thorp's employ was: found dead in a whare near the house at Opukeko. I immediately proceeded to the place and found the bddy where it now lies, clothed in a shirt and flan Del, and covered by a blanket. I examined it but iound do marks of' violence. I left one constable in charge, and despatched another to the Tba.es to communicate .the fact to my superior officer. 1 examined the deceased's effects, bu lound nothing to give any clue to his Chmtian Same or' antecedents. There were only some-old- dirty clothes. Mr Thorp *£d -JSI that there was a baiauce due to him

for wages. I think he was about 50 years of age.

The.corner considered Lhal it wus. perfectly clear that the derpMserf. h;id been ailing for some time, and ili.-n ihe cause of death was disease of tliu brain —doub!;lcss softening of the bruin, wliich would be greatly aggravated by tlio heat ot the weather Jately.

The jury at once returned ii vvrdict that the deceased died from natural causes.