INQUEST.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1863, 5 February 1876, Page 3

INQUEST.—This Day.

An inquest was held this afternoon at the Freeman's Bry Hotel, before Dr Philson, coroner, and a jury on the body of Michael Mcßnsche, a native of Belgium, who lost hiß life on Thursday at the Sandspit. William Dodgeon, deposed that he was employed as mill hand at the Sand spit; he knew the deceased, Michael Bushel;, not Mcßusche, and had known him for eleven' years who, was also a bushman and millage ; he was 45 years of age, and a native of Belgium, he married a half-caste some years ago, but she left him and hi had not since heard of her. He has a brother in Dennedy's Bay. On Thursday last witness and Buabet, v ith several others, were engaged jacking logs down the creek lo the mill, whtu Bushetwith others, knowing that the dam was filling with water, went to the creek side wi'h haud - spikes to put. as many Jogs into the' creek as possible. Bushel got on to the second log with his spike to move the front log. As he did so, the fiont iog moved arid the one he. was Btandiog on followed. The descent of the water was very rapid, and btfore deceased could be got off the log that he was on bhot. into the stream, and the current took him away. Witness could see him, buo could render him no assistance. JBe sunk shortly after. As soon as the water had sufficiently subsided, witness and another went after him, and found the bo iy dead about two lailes from the spot where he started, with the logs on his body, 'ihey took his body to the mill, by order of Mr Caahmore, by his cutter, the Iris ;. Jfcus body was greatly bruised ; he could not swim. Robert Caahmore, proprietor of the Sandspit Saw-mills, residing in Hobson-street, hid known deceased eleven years, and on hearing ef the accident had the body coffined and forwarded by his cutter, the Iri/?, to Auckland.

James An_enne, timber merchant, had known deoeased aa a Bcber man for twenty-two years. He left £3S 5a in his possepsion some ten days age to take care of or him: Sergeant Martin gave evidence as to recaiviug the body, and the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."