INQUEST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1147, 26 April 1870, Page 3

INQUEST.

As inquest was held yesterday, at Mr. Harrisons hotel, Paki Paki, before T« Hitchings, Esq., coroner, and a jury, on the body of one William S. Smith, who was found drowned under the circumstances detailed in the evidence subjoined :-— Alfred Harrison, being -sworn, said — I am a settler residing at Pakipaki. I was j driving from Havelock on Friday evening, the . 22nd instant, at 8 p.m. I met a man near my house, who asked me where Harrison's hotel ' was. He was going the wrong way. I directed him. He said — " 1 suppose you don't know me ; my name is Smith." We kept company for about 100 yards, and then we parted. He was a perfect stranger to me. The night was dark. I went on to the hotel. In about three-quarters of an hour, a Maori came running in, and said there was ft man in the river. I, with several others, ran down to the river. The Maori accompanied us. We made torches, and looked about, but saw nothing. I saw a Maori, Pirika, go into the river, and was in the water for some time. He then found a hat, which has since been identified as belonging to deceased, close to which was the body of deceased. The Maori brought him to the' bank, and we secured him." The man was cold. There was a scratch over the. eye, but not serious. About an hour had elapsed since we parted on the road. The creek is nearly still water, about five feet deep. It is not fenced from the road. No one could have mistaken the road. The banks are steep. The man was too far gone for us to make an attempt to save him. I don't think he was drunk. Herbert Percival, sworn, stated — I am a brickmaker by trade. I knew the deceased. I identify him as a man called Smith. I was last in his company at Napier, on Friday last. I had been with him for two days. We had been drinking together at the Napier Hotel. We left in company by Cobb's coach on Friday morning. Ho got down at Caldwell's. He was, when I left him, nearly in the horrors. He had been drinking for a fortnight. He told me he had been working at. the Flax Mills (Nelson's). There was a scratch on his eye. Three of us, , myself, deceased, and Macfarlane, left in the coach. Macfarlane and I came on to' the Pakipaki. Puku, an aboriginal native, being sworn, deposed— l was in the Pakipaki pah, unSaddling my horse. I heard a splash in .the water, but no cries. I then took my .horse to the paddock. I returned to the whare in a short time. I then fancied I heard a gurgling noise coming from the river.. I then took a. candle and ran to '• the river. On reaching the river I saw a bubbling in the water, and afterwards something like a man. I was then frightened, and w*ent on to the bridge, and then went to the hotel. I offered no assistance, 'as I was too frightened to do anything. „v The verdict was one of "accidental death." The name of deceased was gathered fcom some memoranda found on his person, and he is supposed, from the nature of the some, to have served in the colonial forces.