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Taranaki Herald, Volume I, Issue 30, 23 February 1853, Page 2

We regret to say that the body of JAMrs Bucki.and mentioned in our Obituaiy, and whose absence was spoken of in our last number, was discovered by a nalive in the waters of the Waitara, on Thuisday last. Fiom the appearances of the body it had probably been many days in the water. An Inquest was summoned for the evening of Satin d>iy, but the party who discovered the body not being in attendance was adjourned till Monday evening, and the body was forthwith huiied in the Churchyaid at Te Henui, the Rev. — KtNonoN officiating. We mention this point because we learn it has bcenrepoiled that the interment took place without any religious ceremonial. The adjourned Inquest met again on Monday, when evidence of the finding of the body was produced, and after some discussion a verdict of " found diowned" in the Wailara was lcluincd. We have more than one communication befoie us leferring lo this melancholy occuircncc, but prefer to give Ihpm cuisoiy notice heie, ralhcr than giving them publication in an cntiie shape. The Police autlioiities aic reflected on for neglecting — notwithstanding the tepiesotitation niailc to them of the deceased's sUe picvious to bis disappearance — to care for his safety. We trust, there is some misapprehension on the point, siuco thcic is an establishment supported by the public whit li would render such care as easy as it would have been humane and pioper; and also that no 'proper activity was displayed by them in making soaich after the missing man ; the subscription advertised having been raised by a few private individuals who interested themselves in the matter out of pure humanity and chiistian feeling. Again there arc complaints of the way in which the Inquest was conducted. The not being prrpjied with evidence on the first meeting of the Inquest, by which men were withdrawn from their business a second day ; and on tlie proceedings and verdict, some questions have been raised. The man was found in the water, but theie was neither examination nor evidence showing that he had been drowned. It may be that the state of the body negatived aniving at any conclusive evidence on this point, but was it attempted ? There was, it may well be presumed no intention on the part of the deceased of committing suicide, or it might have been accomplished at one of the rivers ho must have passed to get to where he was found ; the only point, then of consequence to ascertain was whether he came by his death in the water, and a verdict of accidentally drowned might have been returned, but this does not appear lo have been done, and it is difficult to see how the verdict can be leconciled with this hiatus in the evidence.