A CORONER'S DUTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10718, 12 October 1920, Page 6

A CORONER'S DUTY

WILL NOT "CUT THINGS SHORT." VERDICT ACCORDING TO EVIDENCE. Yesterday afternoon", during the hearing! of evidence at an inquest, Mr A. W. Blair, who appeared for a taxi-car driver, whose vehicle hadi been tho cause of a man's death, enquired of the Coroner (Mr T. S, Evans, S.M.) if ho proposed bringing in a verdict in accordance with the usual practise of tile court- Counsel said it had been tho practise of Coroners in Wellington .to bring in an open verdict in similar cases to thoi one before tho court. This did not prevent any subsequent proceedings being taken, and tho coronial inquiry was confined practically to the determining the cause of death. To shorten tho proceedings, only a few of the, availablo witnesses wore called for; if all were examined, an inquest might occupy <t week. Mr Evans said that the Act was quite clear on the subject, and ho was of opinion that it was a Coroner's duty to give a verdict in accordance with the evidence, and if there was negligence, it was his duty to say so and forward o. copy of tho depositions to the Solicitor-General. Ho would say definitely th.it ho intended to bring in a verdict in accordance with tho evidence, as was his duty in tho public interest a.nd safety. The consequences did not concern him, and ho did not consider himself bound by h practise to cut things short. A Press Association message from Melbourne announces the following inter-State Caulfiold Cup fieratchinfajs: Richmond Main, Yarraldool, Sylvafort, Prudent Field, Nadir Shah. A cable message from Sydney states that the steamer Kosoku Maru has sailed for Lyttelton. When, baby snuffles or snoezos, sprinkle pillow or niKbtgown with "NAZOL." Instantly relieves and soothes.