INQUEST ON THE BODY OF IVANHOE AUGARDE.

Tho same Jury, on the same day, held an inquest into the cause of the death of Ivanhoe Stanley Augarde, who was found dead. Eight of the Jurors who had horses proceeded to the spot whero the body was found, in order to view it. On reaching the body, it wa3 found just a3 left two clays before, well covered up with grass, a blanket and stones. The body was lying flat on the back, with the legs doso together, the muzzle ot the rifle under the right Ice; and the stock on the foot of a . cairn of stones close by on which it had fallen. The arms wero spread out and much discolored. The rifle was a short heavy one belonging to Mr. Carter, and deceased had apparently placed the butt oa the foot of the cairn and drawn the trigger with his hand, having placed the muzzle of the rifle close to tho left eye. The explosion carried away the left eye and, entering the head, took away the whole of the brain, and the top of the head, a large piece of tbe scull being found about seven yards off, and the brains in every direction. Tho scalp was detached from the scull nnd hung down at the back of the head. The father of the deceased was present and undertook to get the body buried. The Jury then returned to the Accomodation House. Richard Kemp, being sworn, said : I have seen a body lying at the junction of tho Severn and the Alma. I believe I was the first to see the body. I looked at it and came on here, and told Mr. Hope. This was on Wednesday about half-past seven in the evening. I have not seen tho body since. I was returning from the Amuri, whero I have been with Mr. Woolley on the survey. I left Mr. Woolley on Monday morning. I made Jollie'a pass on Monday night, and stopped there on Tuesday. I started on Wednesday morning for Tarndale. I called afc Carter's station, and had a letter given me by Percy Augarde for his sister at Stoke. When about a mile from the junction of the Alma and tho Severn, I saw a horse with saddle and bridle on. The bridle was taken off the horse's head and fastened to the saddle where a stockwhip would be hung ; I could not see any rider, and thought he must be duck-shooting. I was still looking out for the rider when I rose tho bank by the cairn at the junction and came on a dead body. I stopped about a. minute and went on. At first I saw a gin-bottle and thought that he must have been drinking, and was thrown, but on remembering the state of the horse, I came to the conclusion that he had been shooting at ducks from behind the cairn and had shot himself accidentally. With that idea I rode on to Tarndale, where, meeting Mr. Hope, I told him what I had seen. The body was lying on its bask, and the gun was lying at the feet, the right foot was over the muzzle of the gun, and the stock lodged against the cairn, his felt hat lay at his feet. I described the body and the dress to Mr. Hope, and he said there was no doubt that it was Ivanhoe Augarde. Mr. Shrimpton was with Mr. Hope at the time and they told me that the same man had shot a man on the Station that day. Neither of them appeared to know for certain that it was Augavde. I did not dismount, but supposed the body to have been dead about two or three horns. Mr. Hope rode on towards Nelson that night, and I followed in tbe morning, and stopped at the woolshed where the Tarndale sheep were being shorn till the Coroner camo up, when I returned to Tarndale. I saw tho brains scattered about, and the blood appeared set when I first saw the body. I did uot notice any other part of the body blown away. Edward Hope, bei".g sworn, sniJ : I am employed on Tarndale. On Wednesday, 29th January, I was coming up from the woolshed with Mr. Shrimpton ; we arrived al this house about ten minutes past five, in the evening ; I remained here about an hour, and then proceeded to Tarndale. About half a mile from the Accommodation House I met Charles Sparrow, who told mo that his mate had beeu 6hot, aud that he was running for assistance to carry him to the house, and that he thought he would be dead before we could get to him. I told him he had better go back and render him any assistance he could, and I would go to tho Accommodation House and got Mr. Shrimpton, whom I believed to bo a J.P. I did so, and we got back to Tarndalo about a quarter to seven. My. Shrimpton and I were riding, George Goblo walked after us. When we got there we could not find Charlie the German, at first. We had overtaken and passed Charles Sparrow on the way ; when he came we found Charlie dead. After considering what was best to be done, we saw a horseman coming up the valley on the South Boad, which proved to be Mr. Kemp, from the Amuri. Ho asked me if any one had passed, or had left the Station, as there was a man lying dead by the junction of the " Alma " and the " Severn," by a heap of stones. After tin*, we carried the b^dy of Charlie to the house. We asked Kemp to describe the body lying they hear what has happened. You rm.st pay all that is right. My house is let at present _to Mr. John Smart, but you can do as you like with it ; he is only renting it. 'Perhaps Mrs. Smart will give you a bill for £2, but don't you pay it. Now, my dear Brother, I mu3t bid you good-bye, and I hope you will get on better than your unhappy brother. We shall never meet in this world again, my dear boy. •'I. S. Atoabde." "Dear Brother — Never trust her in any one's keeping but yourself [meaning the mare probably.] " Clarence Station, January 28. "To Mr. T. Cahteh, "Dear Sir — I have engaged my brother for twentyfive shillings a-week. I hope he will suit you j he is a smart lad. "I. S. Atcabde."

at the junction, and his description agreed with that of the man seen by Charles Sparrow, and who was supposed to have shot Charlie the German. The dres3 was that usually worn ly Tvanhoe Augarde. I asked Charle3 Sparrow for n description of the man who had shot Cluirlio the German, lie gave it to me, but did not know his name. He said Charlie the German, after he was shot, asked him to take him to the house and not to let him die where he was. Sparrow said tbafc Charlio Ind mentioned the name of Augarde as that of the man who had shot him. I went off that night for the nearest magistrate, and returned to Tarndale on Saturday night. I have seen tho body at the junction to-day, and kuow it to bo that of ivanhoe Augarde. I recognised riflo by the body as one I had seen at Mr. Carter's. John Show, being sworn, said : Inm keeper of Mr. Carter's Accommodation House, on the Clarence. On Tuesday evening, 23th January, Ivauhoe Augarde and his brother Percy came in and took their tea together with me. After tea they went together to their bedroom ; half-an-hour afterwards Ivy camo to Ime and asked for a pen. I was writing at the time. I gave him the pen, and he then, went to the sittingroom and began to write. About halt-an-hour after he cume to too and asked me how to spell Blenheim. I told him, and ho went back into the room. After that I went to bed, but was disturbed by his coming into the kitchen soon after. I saw him take a cup and mix up some soda and acid in water and drink it. He sat on the table looking about him for about half-an-hour. At last he put on an old coat of mine and went ba?k to his room, I believe to write. I was disturbed again some time in the night, I cannot say at what time, and saw him toke the teapot and drink from it. He left the kitchen again, and I saw him, no more that night., I heard no conversation that night between him and bis brother. I rose the next morning and found three horse 3by the kitchen door, and turned them down the bank by tho house. I then prepared the breakfast. Percy Augarde was the first I saw that'morning. He was trying to drive the horses away over the river. 1 went out and saw his brother helping him. Ivy Augardo followed the horses on foot, and brought them bar;k into the yard. I then went and told them the breakfast was getting cold. They came and took their breakfasts. Ivanhoe ate heartily and appeared as usual, and after breakfast helped his brother find some tools. He then came to me and said, " John, will you help Percy repair the stockyard ?" I told him I could not very well, as I had some hay to get in. Ho then said, " Percy, you must do the best you can till John can help you." He then went to his bedroom and stopped there some time. His brother then went, to bore some posts. I then saw Ivy goiug to his brother. 1 went to my work, and did not see him alive after that. He was a passionate man. I came down the hill with a bank load of hay, and after getting rid of it looked for Percy on the bank, but he was not there. I went to Ivy Augardo's window, which was open, looked in, and saw Percy Augarde sitting on the bed reading some papers, that looked like letters, with which the bed was strewn. It was about half-pasfc eleven. I asked him if he was veading love letters. Ho scrambled them up, and put them in his brother's box. I then went for more hay leaving him in the bedroom. Ireturned again and got the dinner ready.looked for him but he was not at work. I went to the bedroom window again, and found him still reading letters. I told him dinner was ready. He came, and we sat down to dinner together. I looked at him and asked him what was the matter, as his eyes looked red and bloodshot, as if he had been crying. He told me " nothing was tho matter," so I thought it might be soraothiug else. He then went to his work aud I went to mine. When I returned, perhaps about three in the afternoon, he was again in his bedroom. It was vaining slightly. He did not go to his work again that afternoon. I went to his window again and found him greasing his boots. About five or six lie started towards the Acheron, but came back, and we then went together eeling. While fishing he told me ho should have to start in a few days for Blenheim on hia brother's account, and also to the Wairau to get some money from a man named Drew. We returned and went to bed. About one or two, Mr. Kemp passed on his way to Nelson, and offered to take letters. He took one for Percy. Next morning we went together to work at the stockyord for about two hours, when I missed him again. I went to tho house to look after him again, and found that he had been at the house, and on going out saw he had returner! to his work. I then prepared for dinner. I called him, and he had just got iv when the dogs barked. I went out and saw Mr. Shrimpton cour-ing down tho hill. When he camo up I and Percy were standing side by side. He asked me to allow the lad to go and tether his horse. I went to gat a rope, and Percy a?ked him if his brother was at the tent at tho Acheron, and Percy said to me, " John, he says Ivy is not at the tent." He then took the horse up the hill to tether. Mr. Shrimpton then asked me if there waa anybody elae in the house. I said no. He then took me on one side, and told me there was a most horrible thing had occurred at Tarndale. He said, " Your overseer has gone to Tarndalo and shot Charlie the German, and shot himself." Mr. Shrimpton advised me say nothing to Percy, but to shut up house and go to Tarndalc. Percy ou corning off the hills went into his room and began reading again. I went to him and asked him to get the horses. He said, "Why! what, what is the matter, I know something has happened," and shewed me the letter produced today from his brother. I then accused him of knowing about the contents of the letter before the time he stated, which he denied. He then went for the horses and in his absence I showed Mr. Shrimpton the letter. When he came in, I told him what had occurred. He said, "My brother ha 3 had satisfaction out of Charlie at last." We saddled the horses and set out for Tarndale about half-past one. We came to where the body of Augarde lay, and Percy got off and looked at tho face. I did not dismount. Percy said at once it was his brother. Charles Sparrow was there about three hundred yards off, minding the body. Ho came on with us to Tarndale. I saw Percy first rending letters less than an hour after his brother left. He had a good many letters beside him, also a pocket-book aud a portemonnaie. I do not think he had any idea of what was likely to occur when his brother left, but that he had soon after, from reading some letters. I first observed him to be agitated on Wednesday at dinnertime. Ivanhoe Augavde and 1 did not talk much together, not being very good friends. On ono occasion I mentioned to him having heard that there was a row between him and Charlie, and he mado tho remark that it. was not over yet. I never heard him say lie would do for him or anything to that effect. Charlie the German was working at Mr. Carter's for about 17 mouths, during a great part of which time he and Augarde worked together. They used to quarrel very much. Percy Augarde being asked what letters he was reading before dinner on Wednesday 29th January, slid that was after dinner ; on being warned by the Coroner and the question being pressed said : I forgot to tell you that one of my brother's letters to me was not with tho rest, it was stuck behind a small box in which he kept powdei'3 and small things, in such a way as to catch my eye when J came iv. I got this letter shortly before dinner, but did not like to show it to John Show. By a Juror : At tho time I was reading it, I had no other papers by me ; I left work before dinner because it was near dinner-time. While I was reading it Jack came, and I put it back in the box. I had no other letters or papers about at the time. I do not remember having a pocket-book or portmonenaio by me at the time. I cannot be certain if I was disturbed by John Show at any timo during the afternoon, while in my room. I had been crying before dinner, on account of tho letter I had read. I understood it — some of it. I thought hejintended to go away, or make away with himself, or something. The Jury returned the following verdict — "That the deceased, Ivanhoe Augarde, met his death by committing premeditated suicide, by blowing out his brains with a rifle." After the Acting-Coroner had formally discharged the Jury, Mr. Wie^enhavern, at the request of his fellow Jurors, expressed the high sense they entertained of Mr. Greenwood's energy and zeal in conducting the painful business cf the day, under circumstances, which, from the nature of the country and the distances to be travelled, were of a peculiarly giffioult and trying character. They had a rough and dangerous ride, as the virers wero rapidly rising.