INQUEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2732, 30 July 1915, Page 3

INQUEST.

DEATH IN ASHBURTON.

At, the Hospital yesterday afternoon tho. District Coroner (Mr V. G. Day, S.lvi.) opened an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding ihv. death of John Oaiknauj a single man, aged about 65<

l;aliick Dtw&ne, boarding-house proprietor, stated that the deceased went to his premises to board on Saturday evening last. He appeared to be in good health then, but on Wednesday morning after breakfast the deceased had complained of a pain in his chest. Later, at 11.30 a.m., the deceased came in with a bottle of medicine which ho had procured from a chemist. He took a dose of the medicine, and went out again, and arrived home once more about 2 o'clock. He then complained of feeling worse, and witness suggested that, a doctor should be called,but the idea. was laughed at. Later, the doctor was called, and tho deceased was ordered to the Hospital. He died just as the Hospital gates were reached. Dr. Hugh Hunter, medical . practitioner, deposed that he had been called yesterday to sec the deceased about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He had been too ill to examine properly, and M'itness had ordered his removal: to the Hospital. He succumbed just before his arrival. This morning witness had mauV a post-mortem examination of the body, and found the cause of death to have been acute inflammation of both lungs and acute dropsy of the lungs.A verdict in accordance with tho medical' testimony was returned. The deceastd was formerly a gold miner and cattle dealer in the Waitahuna district, near Lawrence, Otago.