INQUEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3406, 10 January 1890, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the dwollinghouse of Mr Vincent Wardoll, at To Whiti yesterday, before Col. Roberts li.M, coroner, and a jury,' on the body of David Laird, who died on tho previous day from the effects ofpoison..

Dr Beard stated he was called into see deceasod, and when he arrived there was no pulse' at the wrist/ but otherwiso tho symptoms wore not immediately urgent.: ! Deceased gradually got weaker until about half past nine o'clock, when'symptoms of collapse took place rather suddenly, and ha died about 12 minutes to 10 a.m. Deceased admitted to witness having taken arsenic at half past nine o'clock tho preceding night, • He was conscious when witnoss arrived, and ho applied tho usual romedies, Robert Scott ono of tho hands at Mr Warden's station, stated that on the night-of the 7th he noticed deceased to be rather queer looking. After lie went to bed at 10 o'clojkhe asked deceased to go to bed andjput out the light, but ho refused. Aroufc 11.30 deceased got a knife from the table, sharpened it on tho hearth and put it on the mantelpiece. Aftorwards he returned to bed lifted his pillow and took out his razor. Witness totj» the razor and knife' from him ami hid. them. He informed Alfred Merwood oi his conduct. Witness gave deceased an emetic of salt and water after hearing he had takon poison. Deceased was of intomporato habits,' -

Alfred Merwood, rabitter, said ho was working at tlio station with deceased prior to tho occurence, Doceaaed was away'eight or ten days in Masterton, whon he came back he appeared at first all right but aftor? wards became melancholy :and-for' two;ortodays boforo Ills death seemocl quito silly,

Charles Dunn, a station,haud, said deceased ciimo into' his' room at 11 p.m. on the 7tli inst. Uo asked him what he wanted, and deceased replied "what is the matter witfpiu, Dunn ?" Ho next noticed decoased take a jar from the shelf and take some whito powder from it, which ho. put into his mouth and swallowed,and drank some water after, 1 Shortly ■ : i after that he became ill and continued drinking water. William Wardell, manager, stated that Laird had been in his employ, for three . years, and on Christmas, receivitigbis cheque,left fora holiday, and stayed away a week. He seemecL very dull whoa ho returned, tvncl onv the night of the 0 p.m. he advised him to go to bed, and went with him to his wlmre. At 2 a.m.,-bearing .that be had taken poison, ho sent for a doctor, and in the meantime ordered an emetic of salt and water. Deceased knew the jar contained poison, as he : "; bad used it for rats, Ho believed deceased was suffering from the ,• effects of drink. . A verdict ofsuicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity, broughhon by drinking, was returned, i J\! / Wellington Land Board.

The regular meeting of the "Board was held • yesterday, • present. Messrs Merchant (in the chair),' McCardla, Fitzherbort, and Bunny. Tbe reappointment of My D. H. Macarthur as a member \vas read. Several applica - f tioiis for transfers, extensions, • and capitalisations >were- dealt-witbr A scheduleof seleotors• wlio had lieen; given till next auti'mm to complete j their impfovements were read at^

__ confirmed. Tlio Commissioners laid on tlio table a return of applications recoivcd for tlio purchase or lease of Crown lands from the lfltli December to tlio 9th January, 1890, wliicli allowed that during that time 97,888 a 2r Sop had been disposed of at tlio upset price of £88,092 18s -Id. Tlio Commissioner submitted a scliedulo of aolootora who have held over aix years and not completed tlio necessary improvements. , It was resolved to call upon those in wear to show eauso why their interests should not bq forfeited. Tlio Eketnliuna Road Hoard forwarded plans of sohedulo of works completed and proposed jn tlio Parkville Block in IBmection with tlio loan of £BOOO raised undor tlio I'ioans to Local Bodies Act, and requested the Board to give a certificate m terms of the Act. It was'moved that the Board approve tlio expenditure, and will grant n certificate on tlio Board being satisfied that tlio roads arc completed as required by the Act. Tlio Ulid'T Moratory for Crown Lands wrote slating that it is not possible to offer sections 129 and 183, Block 111., Mangaliao, for sale at the same time as the timber is offered, It was resolved to oiler the timber at lOsper treo and to givo the purchaser five years iir which to remove it. It was resolved to offer

section 182, Block, lli, Mangaon for selection as n small run at tl original rental, weighted with £5 value of improvement. It wi to offer forfeited section ; Block XIV, Tarnruft, 20s per acr It was resolved to approve the tram fer of section 204, Block 12, Mai gaone, from W. Murdoch to J, Jone: provided that confirmation of slate ments made bo snnnlied.