ADJOURNED INQUEST.

West Coast Times, Issue 182, 19 April 1866, Page 2

ADJO URNED INQUEST.

An adjourned inquest upon the body of folm Webb wao held yesterday before the liatrict Coroner at the St. Lawrence Hotel, Wharf-street. Francis Martin, the first witness called, leposed that he was a miner residing at Woodstock, and was acquainted with the deceased. He wns in company with him an the 9th mat., at about 3 p.m., and they remained together off and on until midnight. They were drinking together* The last place witness saw the deceased was at the European Hotel, between 11 p.rih and 12 midnight. Hd Was then somewhat intoxicated, Witness never saw him alive afterwards. He recognised the body in the Camp as belonging to the deceased. John Louis Cohen, being sworn, deposed that he was a storekeeper at the Eanieri. He was acquainted with a John Webb, but could not say whether the body found belonged to him or not. At the same time he was iraEreised with the belief that the body was is. His impressions, however, were merely the result of hearsay. It was on the 12th that he last aaw John Webb, who on that day came to the store of J. M. Ryan, at about ten o'clock in the evening. Webb asked whether witness could not tell him where any of tho boatmen resided, k as he wanted to cross the river, to which he replied, "it is surely not your intention to cross the river to-night." Witness was induced to make this remark as the man appeared to be very drunk Webb, however, persisted in his intention, and witness told him not to " talk nonsense " as there was not a boatman in the river that would " cross him." Webb • then left and witness has not seen him since. By the Coroner — He should consider Ryan's store to he a little over a hundred yards from , the crossing place. Should not think there were any boatmen down there at that time of night. He told Webb so and advised him not to go. It was not usual for boatmen to remain so late, although it was a very common occurrence for miners to go down to the river at n late hour, aud not finding a boatman, to take the boat and ferry them?, selves across. This practice witness considered to be most reprehensible and dangerous. By a juror : Don't think there was a fresh in the river that night The weather was fine, but the night very dark. When Webb left the store, witness imagined he returned to the upper part of the township again, and not towards the boating place. ' Christopher Stevens deposed that he was a boatman on the Kanieri, and knew the deceased man, John Webb, whom he occasionally ferried across the river. He last saw deceased alive on the night of the 9th, between ten o'clock and eleven o'clock, at the Tara's Hall public house. He was ' slightly intoxicated. Witness went through into the dance room, leaving deceased in the bar, and that was tho last time witness saw him alive. By a juror : Did not hear the next morning that a boat was missed. Richard Rodgers stated, upon oath, that be was a miner on the Kanieri, but was not acquainted with the deceased. . By the Coroner : He was there to give evidence to the loss of a boat. He (witness) owned one— a small dingy — which he kept mooored a little above the landing , place at the Kanieri. This boat he saw on the evening of the 9th at six o'clock in her usual place, but when he looked for her the next morning the boat was gone. She was moored on the Kanieri side of the Hokitika river. At the time she was taken there were no oars in her. Afterwards heard that a boat had heen picked up abreast the wharf, and on making enquiries found it was the one he had lost. Thq men, however, who found her refused to give np possession, unless the sura of £5 was paid them for their trouble. This was moie than witness could afford, and the boat was still lying in the river alongside the wharf. When the boat was taken there was a sprit, mast, and sail in her. By a juror : It would he impossible to pole a boat across the river between Kanieri and Woodstock, as the water is* too deep. ; William Douglas, a seaman belonging "v" v to the Challenge steam-tug, stated on oath that on the 10th, when the Challenge was lying alongside the wharf he saw a boat bottom upwards drifting past the ' ' steamer, she looked quite sound. Heat,, once picked the boat up, righted her, and baled out the water. She contained a rudder, mast, sail, and two poles. The,<, boat has since been claimed by the last witness, Rodgers, when witness told; him he could have her by paying expenses. -' By a juror: There was a pretty strong fresh in the river that morning. Henry Hayes, a miner, deposed that he was acquainted with John Webb, whom he last saw on the morning of the 9th, at the claim in which he wus a shareholder.') {,' That was the last time witness saw him. f - He bought a share in this claim qn the: ■ '28th of March, for £10. It is not worth vr much, and if sold by auction would realise no more than wa9 «iven for it. Tlie claim is situated on the Kanieri side of the river. This concluding the evidence, the coroner summed up, stating, that although the evidence was not satisfac'toiily conclusive^ :. . it was circumstantially so. There was no. doubt that deceased was drowned, but, how. had not heen shown ; they could therefore L leave it an open question, and return a verdict of " Found drowned," if they were undecided on the above point. Without retiring, the jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned."

It will bo aeon from our Melbourne newa that the Parliament of Viotoria was about to bo prorogued in order to enable tho Governor to immediately convene it again for a new •ession. This course is rendered necessary to enable the Government to re-introduce their Tariff Bill, which tho Upper Houso has rejected, and which cannot, in accordance with the Standing Ordora, again be brought in within " tho samo cession." As the arbitrary powers of tho Speakor in tho matter of committals, imprisonment for contempt, &c, cease with the session of Parliament, the captivity of Mr Hugh George will terminate r the momont hii Excellenoy utters the words, "This Parliament now stands prorogued," •'-«. and the latest viotim of " privilege" will walk forth a free man, without the payment of his wxbiu&t priiott tm. • v«. .