SETTLER’S SUDDEN DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1934, Page 8

SETTLER’S SUDDEN DEATH

HEART FAILURE THE CAUSE. INQUEST HELD AT ELTHAM. An inquest into the death of Mr. S. Love, Moeroa, who died suddenly on Saturday, was held at Eltham yesterday before Mr. W. L. Kennedy, coroner. A verdict was returned in accordance with medical testimony that Mr. Love died of cardiac failure due to degeneration of the heart muscle following extensive disease of the coronary arteries. Dr. Douglas H. Saunders said he made a post mortem examination and found the body to be well nourished with no signs of violence. The skull showed a scar and old fracture, an old standing injury. The scalp showed slight extravasation of blood into the tissues over the left temporal bone due to the fall. The lungs were congested due to faulty circulation and the muscles of the heart showed marked degeneration. There were patches of old inflammation and the valves showed degeneration. The arteries showed marked hardening. The liver, kidneys and spleen showed congestion. Otto Buckman, farmer, Moeroa, said he had known Love, who was 55 years of age, and a native of Christchurch, since 1907. At one period he was a partner with Buckman on a farm,'but this ceased in 1929. He then went to work for Mr. Richards and took ill two years ago. Latterly he had been working for the Eltham County Council. He never complained of being unwell or of having heart trouble, but last Friday morning he said he was very tired. Buckman advised him to see a doctor but he said he would leave it until after the holidays. About 3.30 on Saturday afternoon Love and George Crighton were assisting witness to catch a young horse. The horse was caught and Love said he would take his coat off and hang it on a gate about 20 feet away. Crighton called out Love had fallen and Buckman saw him lying on the ground. He went to his assistance, applied artificial respiration and massaged him but he had expired before Buckman picked him up. Claude T. Flyger, farmer, Moeroa, said he used to visit Love’s home about once a week. Love complained of feeling unwell and had to lie down and rest to get over the short spasm which Flyger considered was due to his heart. GENERAL ITEMS.

Quoits Competition. The New Year quoits handicap of the Stratford post office staff, 250 up, resulted: Anderson (handicap 130) 250, Lennon (130) 245, Francis (110) 239, Mail (115) 228. Sixteen competed.

Course Record Broken. The course record of the Stratford. Golf Club was lowered by two strokes on Sunday by G. Ritchie (Hawera), who went round in 68 as against the existing record of 70.