CASUALTIES.

-4 Mr S. E. McCarthy, Coroner, conducted an inquest yesterday morning concerning tho death of James Henry Jlerc], a married man, 53 years of age, who died at 339 Hereford street, Linwood, on Thursday night. After hearing tho depositions, the Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to natural causes. An inquest touching the death of James Smith, whose body was recovered from tho Avon river yesterday after-noon,-was held before tho Coroner, Mr H. T3. McCarthy. Thedeceased had been missing since Wednesday last from his homo, in Peterborough street. A verdict was returned that death was due to drowning self-induced, as a result of depression supervening on influenza. A returned soldier, named Charles R. Rayfield, a married man, who resided : at Richmond, died under an anresthetic at the Chalmers Military Hospital yesterday afternoon, while undergoing a minor operation. An inquest will be held. Charles Parlson, better known as "Charlie the Swede," was found dead on the Springfield road yesterday morning. An inquest will be*held this morn- ! ing- 1 (PRESS ASSOCIATION TEI.EGHAM.) ! AUCKLAND, February 13 It is reported from Kaitaia that Wei j Hemi, aged twonty-fivo years, has ( bccu found dead by the police. lie was reported missing since last Satur- . day, when it was alleged he was struck \ on the head by another Maori during 1 a quarrel. Enquiries by Constable J Caldwell at Kaitaia resulted in finding; tho body twenty chains from the scene ! i of the quarrel, in a drain, in fifteen! inches of water. The local police quos- I ; tioned the other Maori,' whose name is j ' unknown. I WAXGAXUI, February 13. ! Winnie Melville, aged 33 years, was j drowned in the AVanganui river to-day, ' under sensational circumstances. As I the Palmerston Xorth train was crossin,! the Aramoho bridge, tho woman either jumped or fell into the river j beneath. She was seen struggling in I the water for some time. A named Ramsbottom, a son of tho sfationmaster 1 at Aramoho, pluckily swam to the 1 scene, but the woman snnk before he could reach her. The lad was finally v picked up in an exhausted state by aj l rescue boat. * c