CORONER'S INQUEST.—MAN DROWNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1399, 12 May 1868, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.—MAN DROWNED.

An inquest Was '' held yesterday a fternoon, at 2 o'clock, at the liailway Terminus Hotel, before T. M. Philson, Esq., M.D., Coroner, touching the death of Thomas Hayes, who was picked up on Saturday last in the Frith of the Thames. A reapect&blejury was sworn, of whom Mr. J. McKenzie was foreman. —A fter viewing the body the following evidence was adduced.— Constable James McGinn, deposed: I am a constable stationed in Shortland. On Saturday last I was on my way from Shortland to Auckland in the s.s. Tauranga, when T w&b informed by a passenger that there was. a body in the water off Tararua Point, about four miles this Bide Shortland. The vessel was steered towards the body., I recognised the body as being one Thomas Hayes.' The greater part of the passengers also recognised him. The body was got on board the steamer, examined and searched. It appeared to have been in the -water a day or two. The body presented no marks of decomposition. There was a little blood running out from the eyebrows. The arms were raised ae if in the act of swimming, and were stiff. The body was fully clothed, and the boots covered with mud, as though he had been walking through the creeks; He was in the usual dress that I hod been accustomed to see him wear at Shortland. I found no money in his pCoSeWu-i. I ulfacos v.-—. iio marks of violence on the body. I had the body conveyed to Auckland, and deposited in the dead-house. I last saw deceased alive on Thursday last, about 10 o'clock in the morning. He was passing the Police Station at Shortland alone, and apparently sober. He had previously belonged to the Lord Ashley claim, but had sold out. He Was about 28 years of age,' a native of Liverpool, and came out from England as steward of the Queen of the Deep about threo years'ago. He had been a barman in Auokland, a digger at the West Coast, and also at the Thames. He had been subjeot to epileptic fits, brought on by hard drinking. I should think it probable that he was. making towards Tapu Creek, and either fell o£f tbeicliffs into the sea, or in going round them got into the tide and was swept out. Verdict': Found drowned, without marks of violence. ' . ' • '"