SUDDEN DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4026, 7 October 1874, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATH.

A lUVHMAS, named Jolm Drew, who has boon uoikii;_ for Mr. Macdonald, or the Mirandi, in lulling and preparing mining timbers. died suddenly at tho J laze'.bauk Hotel, lirfiwii-.-tr--t.-t, last evening. 1 >eceased had ero-wed tliu iirtii about noon on Sunday, in company with some mates, ami haa been drinking heavily since at various publichouses. A! iiut <> o'clock last evening he lay down f.ii :L S'jfa in tho parlour of the Hazelbank hotel. after partaking of some nun and mill-', and slept heavily for about throe hours, wrier the servant-girl went to awaken him. Jle bad not taken anything to eat since his 'breakfast, and although not appearing much intoxicated, lie was no doubt from the eii'octs of his drinking habits. \\ hen awoke by the girl he appeared finite conscious, but fell back almost immediately afterwards and expired. .Medical aid was at .nice sought, and Dr. Lctlibridge was shortly afterwards in attendance, but only to pronounce life extinct. An inquest was held 011 tile body this morning before d. E .Macdonald, Esq., and a respectable jury, and t)ie evidence of his mate was taken, who .stated that the deceased had not been drinking for some days, yet was a man of intemperate habits. Dr. Lethbridge also gave evidtnee as to the frequent indulgence of deceased, but that death arose from natural causes, a verdict tantamount to this being returned by the jury.—[Thames Correspondent.]