Coroner’s Inquest.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1836, 26 May 1886, Page 3

Coroner’s Inquest.

An inquest wet held at Papawai ou Monday morning on the body of Paiura Watarauihi, who died the previous day. Charles Burcb deposed to finding Paiura in his tent at midday on the 18th. on lilting him np found he was fesrfnliy burnt and quite unconscious though awake. The fire outside the tent was nearly extinguished, but the fire inside was quite out. The fires did not seem to be knocked about in any way. Witness gave information to the natives and t~> Mrs Roes sad Mr Heckler, and recommended that medical assistance should be sent for. Noticed blood on the oetside of the tent in two or three plaeee os if eome oue bad ■msarad it on entering. Riehard Rosa depoeed that be saw deceased about 7 o’clock thejeveniog previous to thoburning; be was then quits well and sober. Ou Monday evening about 7 p.m. be assisted to dress his burns. I examined the teut and found nothing burned except the boots and a shirt. He had nothing but bis blanket on when I saw him. PiripiHiakn said be bad known the deceased ever since he could remember. Lost Christmas day the deceased staggered aud fell to the ground, but in a few seconds recovered ;he spoke of bis complaint and said it was a fit. Dr Bey gave evidence as to the injuries received by deceased from burning .which we have already published. He had mode a post mortem examination ; there were no marks of violence; there woe a small clot of blood within the brain and small growths or excres eeccca protruding from the surface of the brain. These would probably cause fits, tie thought it likely that deceased remained in a fit for a considerable time. The immediate cause of death were the burns. E. 8. Maansell depoeed to visiting Paiura on Wednesday when be told wituees that he once hod a fit at Wharekaka. He was on good term* with everybody and did not suspect any violence bad been done him. He said he had no knowledge of how be had been bnruad. Hi* sister Rauiari corroborated his statement of having had a fit once beloie. The jury, composed of Natives and Europeans, gave a verdict that me deceased died on the 23rd of May from the effects of burns which he received while suffering from a fit.