SUDDEN DEATH AT TUHIKARAMEA.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 515, 18 November 1899, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH AT TUHIKARAMEA.

Our Tuhikaramea correspondent vviitcs : I deeply regret to report the sudden death of our respected fellow-settler, Mr W. Livingstone, which occurred on Thursday afternoon. The sad event, coming so soon after the death of Mrs Livingstone, has caused quite a shock throughout the district, in which the family were among the earliest settlers. It appears that about 4 p.m. on Thursday Mr Livingstone, who seemed to be in his usual health, left his house for the purpose of gettiug the cows in to bo milked, and not returning a search was made by his sons, with the result that about 8 p.m. their father was found lying face downward in a clump of ti-tree not far from the house. The alarm was given and neighbours were soon on the spot and assisted in conveying the body to the house. Dr. Brewis was sent for and the police notified of the occurrence Much sympathy is felt for the bereave! family, who have had such repeated blows ot late, Mrs Livingstone having only been buried a month. INQUEST. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by the Coroner, Mr J. S. Bond, at the residence of the deceased before the following jury :—Thos. McMicken (Foreman), F. J. Vickers, C. B. Vickers, Thos. Brabant, Geo. Glasson and E. C. Shepherd. Serge. Staplctoti represented the police. Mrs Mary Wathcn deposed to having seen the deceased at his residence on Thursday afternoon at about 4 30 p.m. He appeared in his usual health and spirits David Benjamin Liviugstoue, son of the decease 1 , deposed to meeting his father leaving the house at about 4.30 p.m to get the cows, which was the last time he saw him aliv<\ At about 8 p.m ho looked for his father but could not find him. Had never known his father to complain of the state of his health. During the day the deceased had helped to get in a load of straw and of firewood.

Richard Livingstone, another son, stated that in consequence of his father's absence from home on Thursday evening, he went in search of him at about 8 p.m. and found his father's body in the scrub, about half-a-mile from the house, the body lying on its face. He went for assistance and had the body removed to the house. His father was about 60 years of age. Four or five days before his father had complained of pains in his chest, but had taken no medicine. His father left a will. Had never heard his father refer to his heart when suffering from pain. Frank Livingstone, who was with his brother Richard when the body was found, gave corroborative evidence. Dr. A. Seymour Brewis, M.D., Hamilton, deposed to raving made a postmortem examination of the body, which was well nourished, and bore no external marks of injury. Had found a large blood clot in the pericardium, the heart itself being very fatty, and ou the posterior surface the.e was an extensive rupture, which would cause instant death, the rupture being probably caused by heavy liftiug in the degenerated state of his hear\ The Coroner having summoned up a verdict of " Death through rupture of the heart was returned.''