MAKURI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5029, 18 May 1895, Page 3

MAKURI.

—« — From Our Own Correspondent-. The roads are causing no end of annoyance and bother, a great deal of necessary work has to be done, and there is very little money to do it with. Rather a novel way was adopted for making each one do his share towards making the road lit for wheel trallic, by holding a " Bee " and taking around a subscription list; some of tho settlers gave guineas, and others gave time and muscle. Whoevoris responsibleforthe temporary bridge, the " l'om jUimmtm," should heave a sigh of relief where thero are guineas and muscle to replace it. In its present state it is a disgrace to tho country. It is also a pity to lot the springs from tho bank along tho gorge wash little rivulets of mud into the middle of the road, when half a day's work would turn the water into a culvert. Wild pigs are numerous in this district, and on one property are such a nuisance rooting up the young grass that the owner intends poisoning them! A sportsman had rather a sell a day or two ago. In his eagerness after game, large or small, he had walked many a weary mile without tilling his bag. In getting over a log in the thick of the bush there appeared straight in front of him a pig—such a pig too, large and fat— , just the thing to return in triumph i with, he was sitting on his haunches, eyes wide open, snout protruding. Before our sport pulled the trigger the thought (lashed across him, that it was strange the pig sat so contentedly to be fired at—when —well, it was dead, and our sport ; sat down to consider what was wrong with the universe. A settler, in crossing a bridge last ' Friday, suddenly found his horse i disappear from under him. The horse slipped and fell over the side of the i bridge into a boggy creek, and the i ridcr,withoiit warning,was sprawling ! in mud on the bridge, while tho horse | was llou ndering up to his neck in I bog. Both rider and horse escaped with a mud bath. The Makuri foolkllors meet once : a week lo practice, and hayo challenged the Ngaturis to a friendly ] game on Saturday week, THE QUEEN-SI SUICIDE. ( INQUEST. ] The adjourned inquest regarding the circumstances attending the • death of Fred, Monk took place at ' Mastertou this morning, before Mr ' T, Hutchison, District Coroner, and ' the following jury:—Messrs J. Bealc ' (foreman), J. Gordon, E. Dixon, W. ; Olliver and J. Filers. j John Heggie, a lad in the employ of the deceased, gavo evidence that Monk had told witness not to call him till dinuer-timo next day, as ho had been up for two nights. Before going to his bedroom. Monk had turned a mau and woman out of his shop, who demanded a feed. De- ' ceased turned out the lights and went to bed. Soon afterwards called out to witness asking if ho was in bed. Witness replied " Yes," and deseascd replied that he would put out the kitchen light and wished witness " Good night," This was the last he heard of deceased. Got up in the morning and went on . with his work as usual, About half-past eight, took a cup of tea to j Monk's bedroom, ami tapped lightly , at the door, hut receiving no answer, , concluded Monk was sound asleep, and did not attempt to wake him, Coy came to the shop at noon, and ' as there was some freight to pay on , a load of fish, knocked at deceased's door and called out. Coy came I along, and receiving no answer, burst the door in, They thon saw a man hanging. Coy called Mr Elloy, who came in and cut down the body. The police and the doctor were at once sent for.

Uy the Bench: Know Monk very well as he used at one time to stay at his father's house. Had only been engaged to work for Monk since last Monday. Saw nothing strange in Monk's manner on the last night he saw him. As far as witness knew Monk had not been to bed on the two nights previous to his decease. Did not know how long Monk had been in business, A light was kept burning in the room the previous nights and deceased was sitting by the (ire. He may have slept on the sofa, Had not heard him complain of being ill, Had never seen him taking any drink while witness was with him. Alfred Coy, expressman, gave evidence as to forcing the door of deceased's room in the presence of the last witness and finding thobody banging in the next room.

John Elloy, stated that at the request of the last witness be went to the house of deceased and cut the rope by which the body was hanging. He saw that he was dead and had been so for somo time. He hud known the deceased for four or live years and last saw him alive on Wednesday evening. He saw nothing strange in his manner at the time, and Monk appeared to be perfectly sober. From whatdeceased had said, his business was in a flourishing condition.

wytne rorcman: nau seen ine ' deceased have a glass or two, but never unfit to look after himself, or yet intoxicated. Dr Butemenfc gave evidence that ', at tho request of the police lie 1 visited the house of the deceased and ! found him dead. The body was ' rigid, and the noose of the rope was still round his neck. There was a deep indentation completely round I tho neck. Thcro were no signs of •' violence or of any struggle, and tho room was not disorderly. He attributed death to strangulation. ■ The neck was not broken. He con- » sidered that deceased had beon dead ' from ten to twelve hours when ho 3 saw tho body, Constable May stated that he had made an inventory of the eifeots of • deceased, and from papers found, ho learned that deceased had been mar--8 xied,.but was a widower. Amongst ," his oilects was a letter purporting to l " be from a daughter living at Shrewsbury, England. Deceased was m' receipt of a pension from the Royal II Navy. " ~ This was all the ovidenco, and the lt jury returned ...a., verdict," that deceased _ hanged himself while, temporarily insane.