DEATH FROX IXOESSIYJE DKINK-

A POINT AS TO PROHIBITION ORDERS

An inque3t was held on Saturday afternoon at the Parkside Hotel by Mr C. C. Graham, coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr J. Souness was chosen foreman, touching the death of a woman, about 43 years of age, named Mary Ann Duff. Deceased was given to drinking habits, and died rather suddenly at her husband's residence, Caversham Rise, early on the 2nd irrst.

•Dr Stenhouse deposed that he viewed the body of the deceased on Saturday afternoon. There was well marked rigor mortis, and a good deal of post mortem lividity. The body -was well nourished., and there were no signs of disease, or injury. He inquired into the course of deceased's illness, and, from what the husband and children' said, he came to ; the conclusion that the woman -had died of acute alcoholism, supervening upon a very chronic habit, the immediate cause of death being, probably, sudden failure of the heart "or syncope. Witness did not see any reason for a post mortem examination.

Donald Duff, bootmaker, the husband of deceased, said that on Thursday afternoon Mrs Duff came home drunk, and he put her to bed. She remained in bed, and on the Friday witness said that she would have- to go to the hospital if she did not get better. In the evening witness gave her a little brandy in some milk. He then made her comfortable for the night. About a quarter to 5 o'clock on Saturday morning witness's daughter got up and called witness, saying that her mother was looking very white. When witness went into the room he found deceased breathing very heavily. He and his son shifted her into the front room, and intended to give her something hot, but she died about J.O minutes or a quarter of an hour afterwards. Witness then gave information to the police. Deceased ne\er had any drink in the house since the Thursday except the 3d worth of brandy. She was never sober although there was a prohibition order out- against her. Had no idea where she got the drink.

The Coroner: It's a great pity we cannot find out.

Witness Raid the order was taken out on Triday fortnight. The Coroner asked if the hotels had bee"n notified" of the order being granted. Constable Leece said the information fee had not, he understood, been paid, and until that was done notice would not be served.

The Coroner: I must take a note of that.

• Mary Duff, daughter of deceased, substantiated the evidence given by her father, and added that her mother refused food. At half-past 11 o'clock on the Friday night deceased was asleep, and snoring. At a quarter to 5 on Saturday morning ' witness noticed that her mother was dreadfully white, and she called her father. Deceased never spoke, although she was spoken to. She was usually in a similar state after a drinking 'bout. She had only been sober two days since the prohibition order was made.

One- of the jury said it was a pity they could not find out about the prohibition order. The Coroner said of course if the order was taken out by the police it would have been issued.

Witness stated that the order was taken out at her instigation.

The Coroner: And you never knew that anything was required to.be paid? Witness: No, I did not. The Coroner: I must make some inquiries about it.

"Witness, continuing her evidence, said her mother had been drinking very heavily for five years, and that for the last five or six months she had been drinking nearly every -night. The only quarrel that ever took place between deceased and her .husband was when Mr 'Duff took the drink and pitched it over the ■ hill. Witness had never seen' her father strike her mother, but had seen her mother strike at her father, and throw cups and things at him. Isabella Kingsfor'd, wife of the licensee of the Parkside Hotel, said that no notice of the prphibition order being granted " had ever been served at the hotel. The only thing she knew about it was what she saw in the newspapers. "Witness did not know where deceased got the drink. Had never seen her since the order was granted.

A verdict that deceased died from failure of the heart's action, caused by excessive drinkiaSt was returned,

THE NATAL FRONTIER., DURBAN, November 28. - A ■ traitorous trooper, belonging to . the Natal Imperial Light Horse, has been shot. He "was* caught poisoning the horses* water and fodder. November 29. The six Fusiliers wounded during the attack on an armoured train at ' Chievly have been sent by the Boers to Ladysmith. • | November 30. Twelve British were killed in the Willow Grange sortie on the 23rd, 65 wounded, and seven taken prisoners. General Buller himself will conduct the relief of Ladysmith. " December 1. Outpost fighting in connection with the relief of Ladysmith has begun. General Buller commands 18,000 .British at Frere. The movements of the Boer troops are hampered by 300 waggon loads of loot. The Boers are massing at Grobter's Kloof and also in the vicinity of Colenso, where there are probably 2000 (sic) of the enemy gathered to resist the British advance. 4^ December 3. Pontoons have been despatched from Durban for bridging the Tugela River. The Boers on Thursday attempted to destroy the Tugela bridge at Colenso, but the attempt was gallantly defeated. A reconnaissance in the direction of Colenso shelled the enemy's outposts. The enemy retreated, ths British, capturing many cattle.

December 3. The repairing of the Tugela bridge at Fi'ere is rapidly proceeding. . • • . December 4. . Major-General ■ Hildyard located 5000 Boers strongly posted north of the, Tugela River, with many guns* A -tremendous explosion, which was accompanied by- a huge column of smoke, was heard. A subsequent reconnaissance was made, and, it i» believed the explosion indicates the destruction pf ! the railway bridge, though the«road bridge . is intact. i Ladysmith was reported all well on the 24th. CAPETOWN, November 30. The 12th Lancers inflicted great loss on th> Boer relief commando at Weenen. There is a complete cessation of all authentic -information in ..regard to lh« operations of the British forces in Natal. ' ' December 4. Buller commands 23,000 troops, including volunteers, Major-general Methuen 10,000, Major-general Gatacre 6000, and Major-general French 3000. The maintenance of communication between DeAar and Grass Pan absorbs 8000. THE WESTERN FRONTIER, CAPETOWN, November 28. The Hon. J. W; Bauer's mild homilies to the disloyalists in - his district have aroused /great indignation in this city. The. loyal farmers throughout the Cape are being organised for theiv . own local protection. " ' , Koveinßer 25. The natives reformed Colonel Kejcewich (who is in command of thj» garrison at Kimberley) ou tlie 23rd niiisfc. that the Boer- camps mouth, of -Kir-