INQUEST ON THE BODY FOUND AT COX'S CREEK.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2867, 3 October 1866, Page 5

INQUEST ON THE BODY FOUND AT COX'S CREEK.

An inquest was held at the Railway Terminus Hotel yesterday, before Dr. Philson, on the body of a Maori boy, found on Sunday afternoon, ou the beach at Cox's Oreek. After the body bad been seen by the jury, the following evidence was taken :— James Jones deposed : lam eight years of age, the ■on of Edmund Jones, dairyman, Ponaonby Road. On Sunday afternoon last, I was on the beach at Bellavista, Cox's Creek, in company with my brother, •when I noticed a deal body lying on the beach, at about thirty yards from the water. The body was quite naked. The place where it was lying was within high-water mark. I knew it to be the body of a Maori. There is no house within a quarter of a mile of where the body was lying. About a month ago there were some Maoris living near the place in a tent. They were employed fishing. I never saw any children there. After looking at the body we went away, and told Mr. Geddea and another man, who were walking on the oliff. John Geddes deposed: lam a soap-boiler. On Sunday afternoon last, about 3 o'clook, I was out at Cox's Creek, in company with a friend, James Carlow, when we met with two boys who were herding cows. When we had passed the boys they called to us that there was a body lying on the beach. We went to the place, accompanied by the boys. We saw the body of a boy, apparently about ■even years of age, lying about the line of highwater mark. He seemed to be either a Maori or a half-caite ; he was quite naked. On the left side of the neck there appeared to be a wound about an inch in length. We made no examination as to the depth of ' the wound. There was no appearance that the body had been buried. We left the body where it lay, and I reported the matter at the Policestation in town. Sergeant Jervis, of the water police, deposed : On Monday morning I had gone up to Cox's Creek by boat, with the last witness, who pointed out the body. I examined the body, and found that it was a native boy, of about seven yean. It appeared to have been three weeks dead. The skin was broken on tiie left side of the neck below the jaw. It was only a superficial wound, and had not the appearance of having been inflicted during life. There were smaller wounds of a similar character. The wounds were caused, in my opinion, by the washing of the body over the shingle bottom. The body was put in the boat, and brought down to the dead-house. All the natives that were seen about town and on the wharf yesterday were taken to see the body, but none of them could identify it / Natives occasionally come to Cox's Creek to fish, but there are none at present. I have sent to Mr. Deacon, who lives at Riverhead, asking him to make inquiry of the Kaipara natives who are living at Riverhead ; I have also sent to the settlements on the North Shore. X learn that there have been no natives at Cox's Creek for the last four weeks. I have no doubt from the appearance of the body that deceased was in good health up to the time of his death. The jury returned a verdict that deceased was found dead without marks of violenbe.