INQUEST.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 29 May 1873, Page 2

INQUEST.

(Before W. N. Scarancke, 814., Coroner.) An- invest was held at Hr Shirley'* Hotel, Rangiriri, on the- 27th inst., on view of the body of Richard Dunn. D. Y. Walkor r being worn, deposed : I am a publican residing at Rangiriri. Dutm slept at ray house on or about the I2th May- Next morning after breakfast, Dunn and Poole were in my bar. He participated in two " ihouti." Foolo then asked me if I would tend the boat to go to Churchill. I agreed to lend it on Dunn undertaking to send it back. I refused to giro Poole a bottle of gin. Poole and the deceased then went away. This wa* the last time I saw deceased alive. About '5 o'clock the same evening I taw Poole walking in my paddock towardi Churchill. So appeared to be staggering. James Shirley, a publican, also conducting business at Rangiriri, deposed : About 10 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday, the 13th May, deceased came to my house ; he was very drunk. He said, " I am very * tight,' Shirley, would you try and got me sober ?■ I have business to do at Churchill." He slept in my house till about 4 o'clock ; when he awoke ho- said, I am all right vow, show me where I can get awash. He had a waih. Aftcrwardi ho said give me a "nip" and I will start. He had one glass of palo brandy. Poole came into the bar about this time, and asked Dunn to accompany him to Churchill. Deceased said, go to the boat and I will follow you. After he had left he said, "I do not like that fellow ; I wish you would take mo down." He alluded to Poole bothering him, not to any dislike in parlfcular. Poole wont to the island to take tome sheep. I said to Dunn, I will take you to the placo where Poole is waiting for you. I «aw Dunn go into Poolo'a boat. He pulled away properly ; Dunn was •tee-in?. When about lal "way home I heard sonieloly cooing on Rangiriri side, and auotberone below the island. " I heard nothing moreof Poole orDuun until Thursday, the 15th. Pbole and Stuart camo to ray house abmt ton o'clock, and said Mr J> inn had not got home. Pc &c romarked that the boat had capsized, and that he had left Dunn in two feet of water, who said to him, " I am all right, stick to the boat and save yourself." I (Poole) held on to the bottom of the boat and drifted to Thompson's- Pali. I slept there in the flax. When Poole left my hoat>e fie had a bottle of gin in his possession. He', took it away with him. (In answer to a question, this witness said the talking ho heard in th* boat was not in an anpry tone. James Kvitf. deposed to seoin'g deceased and Poole- in fche bat; they were dose in shore. Poole had the oars and Dunn was sitting i» the stern in a position that le d me to believe Hint he wa« asleep. I thought they were both under the influence* of liquor. r 'f Williwn G<wge Poole deposed: I had been working a' the mill. I pulled very easy down stream. Dunn had his hand upon his chest as if gOng to aleep ; all of a sadden ha gave s start to onv side and ciuwized the boat. Tlio boat turned bottom up. There was about 2 feot of water where tie boat capsized. I saw Dunn get on his kgs. I went after the boat and got inta deep waiter. (Here witness related the same story as told to Mr Shirley.) When it was duylight I started for Churchill. When I got there I went to bod. On Thursday, the 15th, I enquired of tire female •orvaut if Mr Dunn hud returned ; she said no. I then i went to my mate Stewart, and told him of the upset. Ho said he would go with me to Rangiriri to make enquiries. We •Dunn and Poole) had a bottle cf gin ia th« boat with us, t> it it was not opened. I consider that Dunn was sober when he left Walker's. I was drunk when ihp boat was capsized. Tnkero Nga Were deposed to finding the body on. Saturday last. I told Mrs Dowdell and James Kvctt that I had found Dunns body. Alexander Lockie swote to the body boing that of Richard Dunn, and to having pulled it into a ounoe, and to not having observed »ny injury, that to the mouth excupted. John Cadell, n Constable, stationed at Mercer, gave evidence, but it did not show in tny way how deceased came by his death. ' The jury returned the follon ing verdict : — " Richard Dunn wad accidentally drowned by the capsizing of a boat near Shirley's Island."

The Welli ugtoii Independent of the tlth inst. «ays :—: — •'The Government Lave received iufonuiilioii that the ' New Zealand Loan Guarantee Act Amendment Act' — which -wds simply a measure to obviate certaia teubtiicftl miatake3— ha* patted, ami ih&t the imperial Treasury can atrouce issue the remainder of tie bauds. We are not awaie of thu extent to uliich tbe Colonial Government l'*vo ay vilcd thetuselvee oi the Imperial guarantee, but it is uot th j less impurtaut to imnv that tbe Imperial Parliitntui U.ia car.ioj nut its obilgatioua fjitUfuliy."