LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] A Tall Yarn. Auckland, Monday Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2120, 9 February 1886, Page 2

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] A Tall Yarn. Auckland, Monday Night.

The positive statements by Capt. Savory, of the steamer Horald, confirmed by his officers and passengers, that either a ship or a new inland had been sighted off Cape Maria Van Dieman, caused a larije amount of speculation and no little anxiety, the conviction being that the object was a large ship on her^beam ends. Early on Saturday morning the proprietors of the Star in order to set all doubts at rest, and if the worst fears were realised to render aid to any castaways, resolved to charter the tug Awhina, and proceed in her to the position indicated. The tug left on Saturday with three Star reporters, who telegraphed from Mongonui to-day as follows :—We have made a, careful search all the way to Cape Maria, and are satisfied no wreckage has come in that direction. We reached the lighthouse last evening too late to land. Sunday night was very dark with occasional light rain, and this morning the coast is covered with haze and very heavy clouds, which are rising from the north with every indication of a change in the weather. We shall endeaveur to reach the supposed island or wreck this morning, but tne weather may thwart our ] movements. Should the object seen have been a whale, waterspout, fog bank, or mirage, as some people surmise, we shall set all doubts at rest, and if an island, we are prepared to hoist the British pennant and annex it in the name of Her Majesty. The weather has changed, rain blowing with a moderate breeze from the north. The master of the steamer Fingal at Awanui reports having visited several places on the East Coast, and seen no wreckage. Mr Shannon, runholder, between North Cape and Ahipara, came into the latter settlement yesterday, having ridden miles along the beach between Cape Maria and Ahipara, and reports no sign of wreckage, and the Maoris and settlers on the coast observed nothing unusual during the past week. Had there been any upheaval or disturbance of any kind the settlers on the coast felt confident they would have noticed some difference in the tides, but such is not the case, either on the East or the West Coabt. The Maoris are inclined to think that the object seen by Captain Savory was an immense whale lost by them. They hung on for several hours, till sundown, when the monster was carrying them rapidly out to the Pacific, and they had to cut the line to save themselves. With some difficulty they reached the shore next morning.

The Late Dr. Huxtable. At the inquest on the body of Dr. Huxtable, Dr. Hooper deposed that he had known the deceased since he came to Auckland, fi\e years ago. He came to witness respecting an operation he was to perform on the following day and witntts arranged to drive to Newmarket at 11 a.m. He appeared to be in his usual health. Witness believed he suffered from billious attacks. Knew that that some time ago he went to England for change of climate. Heard that he was in tho habit of taking chloroform when unable to sleep. Was called yesterday to visit deceased, who was lying dead on the floor. His head rested on two pillows, and the face had fallen forward and downwards upon a small tea cup (produced), which stood on the floor, the mouth and nose buried in the cup, which contained a small sponge smelling of chloroform. The rim of the cup had deeply indented the face. It was evident that the vapour iniwt have been permanently in contact with the face. An inch phial containing chloroform was by his side, *nd the quantity removed would have been sufficient to cause suffocation if constantly inhaled. Ellen Mary Huxtable, the wife of deceased, deposed that she last saw her husband alive on Saturday night, when he left the bedroom, taking with him his night-gown und two pillows, nnd saying he was going to try .and get a little sleep in another room. He frequently did not go to his own bed. He did not complain of feeling ill. He frequently used chloroform when ne was not able to get sloep. Generally took it on a handkerchief and sometimes on a spongo, but she had never known him to use a cup before. He took an overdose of chloroform in Wellesley-street about a year ago, being seized with a violent fit of toothache. He sont for a dentist, and in the meantime commenced taking chloroform. He was found black in the face, and Dr Wine was called. Witness was out at that time. She had frequently endeavoured to dissuade him from the use of chloroform. Witness got into the room yesterday morning by the little window, and found deceased lying on the floor, dreised as already described. Deceased suffered from hi* liver, and was depressed in spirits. The jury returned a verdict "That deceaied was found dead from an overdose of chloroform, administered by himself for the purpose of procuring sleep."