CONDUCT OF INQUESTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 9

CONDUCT OF INQUESTS.

TRIBUTE TO MR; ASHGROFT.

Dr. M'.Archur, 5.M., ; who was .appointed a! Coroner under the recent ricw ( regulations,' was required ,to hold an . inquest' yesterday ■ aftonioon. . ; Mr. T.'..M..'l,'Wilford "(counsel?for .a "party jinterested''in,tho 'proceedings),-;said that 'as ■this was.,.tho .first, 1 occasion .'on which Dr.' M'Arthur -had ; presided" in .Wellington;."at; a public ,uiquest" sincp his recent j appointment, •'to;;- tho position of Coroner ho desired"to 'say a word, or ,two. „• Tho. membors of the legal. profes'sicin'*regretted ;very -'muoh: s indeed that tlirpugh'iil-health Mr. Ashcroft had been, . obliged to give up his duties i as Coroner. Mr. • iVshcrof I-was .known,to .everyone andi-jurors, i couhsel, and'.witnesses had.: always' .received every . consideration! from him.- Hp (Mr. Wilford)'.felt .sui-o that from his experience of the way Dr- MiArthur had carried ;out his other-duties that.dio 'would : reflect credit on his .present.position in which they wero, pleased to seo him.'-',.•■■ . . . , Div'-iM* Arthur; -' iii reply, • said that there-had-been lio more • faithful• servant than-Mr.: 'Ashcroft;/' As 'for himself, as: ho had done his ' other duties so would ho perform these. . 110 ; had'acted : as-:Cororiorfor' two or three years' :'.in,Auckland,, and'jpne -thing;he;-did..was.al-ways" to ; conibat-the ;ideii of professional I juror's.* He know .'it was very difficult sometimes to'get a-proper jury, but ho'had always disapproved of' the professional juryman, who ;did'nothing but stand; about tho streets wai't--ing- to bo' called on,to'serve; /'/'" : ' .//■' ■ ■ .Sub-Inspector-' o 'Donovan pointed out '• that ■ tho instructions of- .tho- Inspector of Police oh . this- matter- wero always- adhered -to as cli/scly'• aa possible. • '