INQUEST.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1002, 6 September 1872, Page 2

INQUEST.

An enquiry, touching the death of Bomario Zaia, who was recently drowned by the capsizing of a canoe near the Lyell, wati held by Deputy Coroner, Dr. Thorpe, at Derung's Imperial Hotel yesterday ; Ibe body of deceased having been brought down the river on the previous day. Michael Zala identified the body, and stated that deceased was about 51 years of age. Witness had last seen him at Lewis Fonscena's at the Lyell, on tho 18th ult., as he was about to come down the river in a canoe with two or threo other men. Deceased was then perfectly sober and not at all likely to commit any rash act. Witness did not see the accident but had heard the following morning that deceased had been drowned. Frederick Eeed, deposed, as to having on Tuesday last, while going up stream with his cargo boat, discovered the body lying on a beach within half a mile of the Lyell junction, Pointed it out to the other men in the boat, and pulled in to the beach, then saw it was lying face downwards. Did not move it but went on to the Lyell and reported the circumstances, afterwards came back with Mr Antoni Zala, and others, and assisted to take the body up to the Lyell township. James Ward, boatman, deposed that hearing of the accident, be and others had been since on the look out for the body on their trips up and down the river, but had not seen it until Tuesday last, when it was pointed out by the last witness. The body had evidently floated into the position where it was found, as it laid in a small eddy of the stream, and was covered with sand OllLuc, „.o U.„; rt,„ olotUii* s „a,o uurecoguisable. Witness afterwards assisted to remove the body, which bore no outward indications of violence.

The Coroner explained to the jurv that no actual evidence had been produced to show how the canoe capsized, and they would have to consider whether the current report of the accident, taken with the evidence before them, was sufficient to guide their decision.

After a short consultation a verdict was returned of found drowned, and that deceased came to his death casually by misadventure and not otherwise.