INQUEST ON BODY OF CHINAMAN.

An inquiry was held at the Chinese Empire Hotel, Monday, touching cause of death of a Chinaman named WoDg Crow, who had been working on the east bank of the Molyneux, and met with his death in a drive on Tues* day 3rd August. The inquiry was,, held before Jonas Harrop, Esq., one of" Her Majesty's Justices, and a jury, of whom Mr Thomas Wilson (of Lawwmefl), m-timea foreman. Sergeant O'Connor witched the inquirer bn behalf of the police,' and Mr Wong On acted as interpreter. The following evidence was taken Ah Shee, sworn, deposed fhat he. lived seven or eight miles below Bpautnont, Rti member Tuesday, the 3rd inst. Himself Ah Tongj and deceased were working in theirchum together. They worked it by a tunnel,

the length of which was about 15ft. Or 16t».; with the object of taking out the bottom. We started work about eight o'clock in the morning,. The accident happened about dinnertime. Notioing the tunnel giving way they Q&lled out to Wong Gow to run out, but he ran back into the tunnel instead, and the ground fell upon him and smothered him. We at once got the assistance of over twenty of our countrymen, and after about four hours got him out, when we found him dead. We sent information to the police at once. The only property he has is a silver watch, his usual 1 clothes,- «nd loz. 2 or 3dwts of gold. By the Foreman Myself and Wong Gow were in the drive Ah Tong was outside. The ground was solid. The face from which the tunnel was driven would be about 20 fcot 1 igb. -From tho -time the accident happened about ten minutes elapsed before assistance c ime. Ah Tong in the meantime did all he could to gel out deceased. When found the body was all covered with mud. Ah Tong deposed Am a miner residing about seven miles below the Beaumont. Tuesday, 3rd August. _Amja nmte of Ah Gow~and Ah Shoe's. Went" "to work apout eight o'clock. They used props in the gjround, and considered the tunnel safe when the accident occurred about dinner-time. Ah Shee noticed the ground giving way and called dut. The drive fell in. Deceased ran about Half way out of the drive and then ran back again. Ah Shee then ran' to get assistance, which enme in ten or v fifteen minutes— about twenty Chinamen. It took them three or rtour hours to get him out. I was present *when the body- was recovered. It was quite dead. Deceased did 1 not seem to be crushed much just a little blood in the mouth. Did •11 1 could to get him out while Ah Shee was 4way for assistance. They had nil been on good terms together. Ah Shee had known Wong Gow for many years, but witness had only been working a few days with them-. By the Foreman They had five or six props in the 16ft the ground is sandy. It was dry overhead, but wet in tho bottom. The body was discovered at the far end of the drive. Wong Gow was thirty-three years of •ge, and a native of Canton, China. He was unmarried. He has two cousins Ah King and Ah Gan, who live near the claim. Alex Cruikshanks (Constable) deposed From information 'received at the Camp that »n accident had happened on night of 3rd August, wifcneao proceeded on Wednesday morning, 4th August, to the east bank of the Molyneux, to a place called Chinaman's Flat. I found deceased (Wong Gow) lying dead in his hut, where he had been placed by his countrymen. I examined the body, but "could «c no marks of violence. It was all covered with mud, which corresponded with the nature of the formation of the claim where deceased had been working. I searched the body, and found nothing but a glove in the left pocket of his trousers. He only wore his trousers and his shirt— just the way he had been working. I then collected the property, consisting of one pair banket?, one pair strong boots, one coat, two waistcoats silver-hunting watch, chamois-leather bag, containing gold and Is 6d in silver. All these were handed to me by his conutrjmen. [The bag was examined and found to contain not above half an ounce of gold.] Mr Harrop said this concluded the evidence in the inquiry, and he thought the jury would have no difficulty in arriving at their verdict. It appeared a case of accidental death. The jury, wifchoub any retirement, ab ance came to a unanimous verdict that the deceased came by his death accidentally, while at work in his claim on Tuesday, August 3rd. Tuapeka Times, Volume XIII, Issue 656, 7 August 1880, Page 2