THE SUICIDE OF SERGEANT-MAJOR ERASER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 131, 10 April 1879, Page 2

THE SUICIDE OF SERGEANT-MAJOR ERASER.

A good deal of surprise and concern was manifested in town yesterday, says the Auckland Herald of March 21, when it became known that Sergeant-Major William, Fraser, drill-instructor of the Waikato Cavalry, had on the previous night committed suicide, by shootiug himself, Sergeant-Major leaser resided with his family at Te Awamutu, and rendered himself very popular by his genial manners as well as by his untiring assiduity as a drill-instructor. He hid the reputation, and deservedly so, of being the best cavalry drill-instructor in the Colony, and he was the beau ideal of a smart soldier. At the time of his death he was 48 years of age. Sergeant-Major Fraser had seen considerable service before his arrival in New Zealand. He served in the Crimean War, and took part in that famous charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, which made the world ring with the fame of tho " Gallant Six Hundred." After obtaining his discharge be came to South Australia, and obtained the appointment of cavalry instructor at Adelaide, He subsequently came to New Zealand, and served at Patea, in the capacity of drill instructor to the cavalry of Colonel Whitmore's command. On the removal of the last of the Imperial. troops—the 18tli Royal Irish—from Auckland, Sergeant-Maior Fraser was ill command of a corps of 25 men, who took over charge of the Albert Barracks; and he subsequently removed to the Waikato, where he was connected with the mounted Constabulary, He has for several years' been drill-instructor of the Waikato Volunteers, and the high state of efficiency which these troops manifest in their parades and in their evolutions is in a great degree due to his skill and untiring zeal. It is presumed that drink was the primary cause of the rash act which terminated his life. It is said that he first attempted to shoot his wife, but she evaded him, and he then turned the revolver on himself, and shot into his left breast, the ball passing completely through his body, and lodging in the wall behind. A telegram from our correspondent informs us that an inquest on the body was held yesterday afternoon at the Te Awamutu Public Hall, before Mr Graham, district coroner, and a jury, and a verdict of " Suicide while laboring under temporary insanity" was returned.