INQUEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1105, 21 June 1882, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held atthe Empire Hotel to-day by Dr Spratt,' the district coroner, I -on the body of a native named Rapana A jury of which Mr Price was foreman was duly sworn, and, after viewing the body, took the following evidence, Mr T. Hill acting as interpreter for the Maori witness. Martin Luther,, a native of Te Ore Ore, deposed that;he saw the deceased on Monday last. He was then a little lightheaded. He resided at Te Ore Ore. On the Sunday night he was restless, "and continually moving about. On' Monday, for that reason they confined him in a ; whare. He was perfectly harmless and did not talk much. (Mr Hill:" When in that state they usually put them into a.whare to die.") They gave him qori bread and told him to keep quiet. Thr . : hiess visited tho deceased at -intervals up till 5 p.m. on Monday; which was the last time .that he eaw him, Witness had known the deceased some forty years. Deceased was a man when witness was a child. Deceased had been subject to fits of insanity for the past three years. He had a morbid fancy for building fires, but never lit them.. His' memory was affected. Three old natives had recently died at Te Ore Ore similarly affected with the childishness 'of old ago. 'file deceased had; relatiyes in the Castlepoint district, His 1 wife died last year. He had ho children... He was a landowner.

. W. lorns deposed: Yesterday morning I was out after horses, about ten o'clock, at Potairau about a mile and a half below To Ore. Ore. .1 crossed the river and noticed something peculiar at the edge ot the stream. 'There was a flood the night be/ore, When L went up I discovered the object which had attracted my attention wasU : Maori man perfectly naked, I was not certain that it was Eapana, but partly recognised him. The body was partly covered with water, the face being, submerged. ;I then rode into Masterton and reported tlio occurrence to the Natives and to the police, The deceased was an aged man, as far as :I can remeiiiber, twenty years ago, He usually went about' dressed in a blanket. . Mr Hill expressed an _ opinion, that, tlie deceased Jwas between eighty and ninety years of age, ■..■',...... '. ' j The Coroner'in summing up the "evidence pointed out that the natives had not negleoted the deoeaßed, . |

' Thejuryretufted'the. following verdict, viz,. That Eapana was found dead in the Ruamahunga river on' June 20, and there was no evidence to -show how.he came by bis death,, ■-, .-.,- . ,-,•.,■ j The Coroner: You don't think gentlemen itis necessary, to.mention ( that he was elf unsound mind at the time, ■'•':• j.

/The jury; No!; •■-' | ■'.., ~ A juror: Can yon-asoertain whether'he was dead before he was in the water ? j . The Corb'ner^lt;inightbeasoertairied, but I don't think &posl mmtem examination is necessary. ■ Snqk an - be offensive to the Mkories.' ; -; u ; w V; "-?A. -< A« juror: : starved to death; and his- stomach'might havebeenlooked t0."... •.

The proceedings then terminated,

K .'■'■ $S ";ffi ; '■.'.» ■T---'%' \ ■ SjThe u|Uahmeeting of tliebqunoil was held ;last evening.? : ; MayorKan(f;-.Ors Price, :Periy. /Capper, McCardle, Ohamberiain, Vile and Feist, : ■"'■'■■'■^^ i . The minutes of the previous 'meeting were read and. .confirmed and correspondence. read. - -.-■'•. ; :";:.;,. . \;

PATRONAGE REQUESTED. - t . Mr Pybus, blacksmith,. wroje., asking for some of the Borough patronage; The Clerk was requested to reply that tenders'-were about to'be called for blacksmiths' work.' WIDENINQ BANNISTBR-ST. Messrs B.P, Perry and Wi, Lowes .wrote, stating their willingness to. contribute to the cost of this work. It was resolved to wait till other replies were in before taking aotion in the matter. ':'■"■■ '■:' '_ . FIRE BRIGADE ■ABBIBTANpK. •• The -secretary of the' Fire Brigade' wrote asking for a donation to.the Brigade's funds to pay working .expenses. Ou trie motion of Or Gapper seconded by Gt Feist the; Clerk was instructed'to ask for the, annual statement of accounts of the Brigade; ' ; '•' : . ORAVEL PIT, A letter was read from Mr J, Linton, Truatee in Kibblewhite's estate, offering to sell an ! aero of land for a gravel piton the Upper Plain for £4O. : Eeferred to the Works Oemmitteo'to repoit on site offered at next meeting.' '.'/.• ";■',. - KURUPUNI HALL CO. ■•: The secretary of tlie above company wrote asking that the footpath in front of the Hall be formed and metalled, deferred to the Works Committee with power to act, on the motion of Cr Price seconded by Cr Heron. ' CHAMBKJILAIN BBOS. MILL, Messrs Hoar, Nicol, and Galloway wrote complaining that the exhaust pipe of Chamberlain's Steam Mill, kept them awako at night, aiid'asking the Council to suppress the noiso at night as a nuisance. . Mr Hoar, who was present, explained that ho and his neighbors could not sleep through the noise the pipo made,. He did not know how it was to be. remedied, but he did not go the -nuisance, it came to him, and he thought it .should,bo abated. Cr Gapper explained how the noise could be stopped, by turning the exhaust down a well. . The Mayor said there was nothing in the Act by which they could call this matter a nuisance. ■ The Clerk was ordered to communicate with Messrs Chamberlain Bros., and ask ;h-in if they could abate the noise. ' StAKORA STREET;

A petition was read from residents in Makora. street, asking, that the road be metalled, as it was in a very bad state. The/Mayor'stated stated this was one of the mirks which has already heed passed in the schedule. It was a very necessary one, but it was so costly that it had been decided it could not at present be undertaken. It could, not possibly bo done while the wet weather lasted. CrCasdberg asked if the work would be gone on with when the weather became finer ? . Gr Gapper explained that the finances of tho Borough would not boar the expense of the work, together with the work on the Upper Plain road. Cr MeOardle said tliatVthe work was one which' really ought to.be done, and he trusted the Council would 'soe its way to do something 'to this street,' It was a plumpudding road. Cr Price moved that plans and' specifications be prepared, and tho'.work- (which was acknowledged to be an imperative one) gone on with, as soon as the weather permitted, and the by-laws had been complied with. Cr Caselberg seconded, It seemed to him that while all Councillors agreed, with the necessity of the work it was -..generally shelved on diEcussion on the ground of financial difficulty. Gr-Vile said that though ho agreed'that t;e wo k was necessary, it would be usoless' t.) s i aliui.t 'it'for two or three months, as the road would be damaged as much as benefited by tho traffic of the carts engaged 'ill its formation.

Cr Feist agreed with the resolution.

Cr Gapper pointed out that the proper course of tho petitioner l * wis to pay into the Borough fund the amount to be contributed by thenl (on of the footpath which would have to' be-jjnatle) before the work was commenced, /'■; The motion was carried. UPPER TLAIN ROAD.

The clerk reported that the Works' Com: mitteehad accepted tho tender-of Parke' and Burke of £IOB 6s, The action of the Committee was confirmed, • WORKS COMMITTEE. Tho committee reported that they had received the overseer's report as follow i :- Nothing had been done to Bentley Bros'., contracts in Perry-street and Short-street owing to wet weather. The oTerseer had foimed a footpath in Russell-street, and would gravel it as soon as possible, Tho stream running through the church aci n required cleaning out, commencing at Ju&.'s to the Borough boundary, Lincoln road footpaths .required repairing. The repairs in Queen-st, were being done." lhe Committee resolved that the Council be recommended to give notice to clear out the c eek, Mr D. Crewe's application was not entertained; the work he had already done was worse than useless, and the application was not in accordance with thestanding orders of the Council, Barker and Burke were granted a fortnight's grace in commencing their contract. A letter was read from Mr Benall re gravel pit, and it was resolved that if Mr Benall bo willing to accept payment ai formerly the Council be recommendedto accept his conditions. Tho reports were received and adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Wages and contingencies, £52 17s 3d; cartage, ss; Library loan expenditure, £l2 15s; auditors' election, £4 15s; Paytou and Co., £7 3s Gd: Smith and Hogg, £615191; Freeth, licensing, £l2 4s, Bead and adopted. Cr Gapper pointed out tho rapid increase of the Borough overdraft and asked Crs to bear this in inind when pressing the AVorto Committee to undertake fresh works, ■■ Cr Vilo said he thought Cr Gapper was rather frightened at a little debt, and pointed out that this year's rates would be coming in while they were thus expending thsir money. He thought when works were really necessary they would be justified in doing them, eyen if they did increase their overdraft, : ;' ~ BENAImt. ' Cr Chamberlain reported that the committee had seen most of the tenants of Mr Reriall, and they nearly all consented to give tho land required. Ho proposed to get them to sign an agreement to that effect, and present it at next meeting. HRKSLUICEg. Cr Chamberlain pointed out that the sluice gates were useless, as the water was not colleoted by them to a sufficient depth to cover the suction hose. Cr McCardle suggested that they should have low sluice gates so that after collecting three or four feet of water behind them' it would flow ovor. The rubbish which might collect could be set free at any 'time by raising the gate. Or Gapper said the old sluice gates 1 ie> quired pulling down, remodelling, and put up again. After a little further, discussion the matter dropped,. HBRABY. MAN, "it Caselberg moved that ; the banks be communicated with to ascertain- at what rate of interest they would advance the sum of £4OO, the principal and interest to be paid off annually, and the whole debt to be paid in about twelve years, with the privt lege of payinjthe amount off sooner if found advisable.; He thought they would beable to pay it in two or three years, Cr McCardle seconded, but suggested that theinatter be .referred to'the-Enance Committee'toreportupon.v ,■./ ■'■• ; '■; Cr Caselberg agreedj.to this,, and also to tho"suggesti6niof:.Gr,.,Yile,. that the Com' -mittee ~ make ,;any 1 other rinquirjer they might thinkfitihtho matter,! ■. The resolution waa put and;oarried. V . OR MCdABkE llf EXPLANATION,

'•'Cr,MdOarttTero'se ,; with refereace to'his absence from the Council, and 'stated no important question had been debated in his absence the result of which his

presence would have '; hisabsencewouldhavebeenibJErioustottoße ' '< he represented hew;ould<iesijnVbutihe was quite sure this had hoi been the oasq,-.".'•' IMPOUNDER. -■'"■' '■' Mr 0. J. Freeth'wrote tendering bis resie- ' Dahonasimponnder, He complained that the Council had not treated him tie matter, and that he had done his"dnP| far as firas consistent with the ' meagre payr; As he did not intend to do more in the future tha i, he had in the.past he sent in his. resignation. ■ • ■ • '■Theresignation" waa.accepted;' ; • -£•■ Cr Foist move $ thavapplications be invited ' for the office. / ; .--' ■Or Price seconded.""' '■ Cr Gapper moved as an amendment'that Mr Ingram be appointed at a salary of L2O a year. 'Mr Ingram was inspector of nuisances, and this amount added to his present salary from all sources would render him independent and above any suspicion of favoritism. .■■ ■ -,

Cr Caselberg seconded. < ..Hp pointed out that a committee had before recommended this courao ; to bo adopted but had- de-ferred-to the feelings'of Mr'T. W. Shute, (laughter), who wrote protesting against Mr Ingram having any ; piore,offioeß thrust upon him. Cr Feist said with the: consent of the Council he would withdraw his motion, and let the amendment gbja an'original resold tioa. ..'.:•.• The motion was carried and Mr Ingram appointed, '"' CHAPEL-STREET. Cr Feist said that notwithstanding the : complaints re their:finance, he felt compelled to bring South Chapel-street under the notice of tho Couuoil. This should receive immediate attention. He thought Russoll-street, which".adjoined,' should also be undertaken immediatejy.,; .The fobtpath from Smith-street to.MrsGreatiiead's should also be done. , Cr Gapper said he was vory glad Cr Feist had brought Chapel-street up again in the Council, On a former occasion when he (Cr Gapper) proposed the work, the Council shelved it, and wonld not see tho necessity of it. Now it was brought home to them ; Bussell-street would be drained by the formation of Chapel street, and both should be done together. The. residents, however, should take the proper course and petition the Council.

The Mayor said ho had been spoken to by several ratepayers nnt'he' subjeo;, and had advised them to take this course.

Or Vile said this work should be done, petition or not, and he also called attention to Villa-st and Cricket-st which were both in a very bad state. Or Feist moved thatthe Works Committee bo instructed to proparoplanß and specifications for the work'in Chapel-st south, and Kussell-st.

Cr Caselberg seconded. Cr Gapper pointed out that the street from Renall-st to Mr Crayne's was only half a ohain wide. Cr Perry and Mr Renall had each promised to give'the land to widen it, hut a definite understanding would have to be arrived at before plans and specifications were prepared.

Cr Vile moved as an amendment that before the plans wero prepared Mr Renall bo communioated with to ascertain if he would give iho land on the same terms he gave tho strip in Reuall-strcot, . He (Cr Vile) would havo no objection to tho Works Commifcteo cutting a small drain to take tho wator off Bus-ell-street in the meantime. Cr Gapper soconded. ; The original resolntion. was made to combino the amendment:and, was put and carried.

VILLA-STREET. Cr Vile moved that, plans and speeificawnsbe prepared for.fiuVstreet,,.He'believed all the sottlers would sonbe their share of the cost.' • Cr McCardle seconded.—Oarried. nNAKOUL,'. <Y Caselberg sail, as ift -member o(!he linance Committee, he felt it his" dfkto bring the matter of ways and means Wore 10 ijm Tlleir oTCrJ f«ftwas now £650 12s Id. Works authorised, street maintenance, and works in hand, brought up this total to £IBOO. How, whitamount of rates outstanding, and for the. current yew, had they to meet this? He would move that the Clerk furnish a return-of all outstanding rates due for current year, and th« amount of money that would bo available, for future expenditure, after paying works, in hand and authorised.'. Cr Gapper sounded. He-thought' Cr Uselberg's action was the boot that could' be taken to bring their position homo toCouncillors:

WEILIKOroN OAS COMPANY'S Bill. The Mayor said Mr Beetham, M.H.lt had' been asked to tako this Rill up, but wished! to know if Masterton people would have any objection to his doing so. An expresion of opinion from the Council,, representing Masterton would be binding on him. ' Sevoral Councillors stated they could sea no objection to' Mr Beetham taking up th<* Bi 1. Cr McCardle would like to seo the Bill before giving in opinion, and the matter dropped.

CORONER, Consideration of the appointment of a Coroner was adjourned.to next sitting and the Council adjourned.