Agnes Weir, (1842-6/11/1880). "the ferocity of a tiger"

Agnes Weir, of Mornington, who was admitted into the Hospital yesterday afternoon suffering from the effects of a dose of poison, died in that institution at an early hour this morning. Her husband, John Weir, being out of employment, had resolved to go up country on a hawking tour, but this did not meet with her approval. This and other family troubles preyed on her mind until she resolved to take poison to end her life.  -Evening Star, 6/11/1880.

An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday, before Dr Hocken, coroner, and a jury of 12, to elicit the circumstances attending the death of Agnes Weir, who poisoned herself by taking a dose of arsenic at Mornington on Friday morning last. It appears from the evidence that the deceased was found by her husband, John Weir, vomiting and in an exhausted state, about 10 o'clock. He at once brought in a neighbour named Mrs Lockhart, and the woman was ultimately sent to the Hospital. Weir said that he had a few words with his wife the previous night, and that she had admitted taking the poison in consequence. He described her as one possessing "the meekness of a dove and the ferocity of a tiger, but withal a fine woman." She had previously threatened self-destruction, and on one occasion swallowed some sulphate of copper. According to the testimony of Mrs Lockhart, Weir was using foul and abusive language to his wife when she arrived on the scene. The deceased said that she had been an ill-used woman all her life, and that it was on account of her husband calling her names the previous evening she had taken the poison. The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity, and the Coroner addressed Weir as follows: — "The Jury wish me to say to you that they consider the condition of mind spoken of in this verdict was caused by your own abusive language towards her, and they also consider that you are worthy of censure for not taking more care of this dangerous poison, knowing that she had frequently threatened to commit suicide, and had on a previous occasion actually taken poison. In that censure I concur."  -Otago Daily Times, 9/11/1880.

William English, (1822-17/6/1880). "I can no longer exist"

Shortly after dusk last evening a boy passing along Water street observed someone lying stretched out inside the porch of the Colonial Bank building. On examination it proved to be the body of a man just dead. The body was taken to the Hospital, where it was refused admission, and after being taken to the Adelaide Hotel was subsequently removed to the Empire Hotel, where an inquest will be held tomorrow. The deceased, whose name was William England, was about fifty years of age, and has for many years practised as a surveyor in Dunedin. Beside the deceased was found a small stopper bottle containing oxalic acid.  -Evening Star, 15/6/1880.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Empire Hotel, Dunedin, on Wednesday, before Dr Hocken, District Coroner, on the body of William England, which was discovered lying in the porch of the Colonial Bank on Monday evening.

The following is the main evidence adduced: —

Archibald Hill Ross, of Princes-street, deposed that he had known the deceased over twenty years. Deceased was a native of Ireland, and would be about 58 or 59 years old at the time of his death. England had been married, but was separated from his wife. He was a Roman Catholic and followed the occupation of a Civil Engineer and surveyor. He had not left any property. Deceased was addicted to drink, and had suffered from delirium tremens. When he was last dismissed from the Public Works Department owing to his drunken habits, he went into witness's shop, and said he would cut his throat. Last saw England alive about two months ago, when he mentioned that Mr Grant, of Granton, had given him 10s. Witness did not think England had been in a sane state of mind for some years. When witness was living in the bush 15 years ago England came to his place with a brace of of pistols, and was then completely insane. England seemed to have been quite mad after taking drink. He was always brooding and melancholy. Witness did not remember having seen England smile. England was so frequently in a state of chronic drunkenness that he became melancholy. It was about two months ago when he told witness that he would cut his throat. England had been an inmate of the Benevolent Institution, and shortly after leaving that he promised to do well for himself. About fourteen years ago England spent L200 in drink within three weeks, and then became quite insane. He formerly occupied the position of District Surveyor at L350 a year and field allowance. Drink was the cause of his downfall. As a professional man England had but few equals, and certainly no superiors.

Frank Manley, a youth, deposed that while going along Water-street on Monday evening he heard deceased moaning in the porch and informed a constable.

Constable Stewart said deceased was alive when he found him. He sent for Dr Reimer, who, on his arrival, said deceased's blood was in circulation. He was conveyed to the hospital, but died before reaching it. Witness found a bottle containing strychnine in deceased's pocket, and also the following letter: —

Cox's Temperance Hotel, Maclaggan street, Dunedin, 14th June, 1880.

My Dear friend, — I am so nervous that I can scarcely direct my pen, but I could not well do what I am forced to do, without saying a word of farewell to my last friend.

I can no longer exist. I know not where to lay my head at night, or to find the price of a meal to appease the constant pain of hunger. You can have no adequate idea of the abhorrence with which I regard the idea of suicide, yet I am compelled to this course as the only one open to me. I am old, disabled from rheumatism, and cannot under the most favourable circumstances expect a long lease of life. If my mind were free as to the morality of the act, I would have no hesitation as to what I should do; but seeing myself so pressed by insuperable difficulties, I have no alternative. — Yours in death,

W. G. England.

 P.S. — I have seen some people since I have written the first part of this note, and I see no hopes for me. Oh. David, it is dreadful to think that a man in the full possession of all his intellectual faculties should be compelled to do what I am going to do. It is horrible. Yet, what can I do? Nothing but that is left to me. Even as if all these things were not enough, the conditions of life in New Zealand are enough to discourage anyone to endure life here. Pity me, your poor friend, W. G. England. 

David Grant, of Granton (Taieri), said he had known the deceased for many years. Witness met England in town about six weeks ago, and spoke to him. England then said he had had nothing to eat for a whole week before that. Witness said it was very hard times surely and gave England half-a-sovereign, and said, "Go away and get something to eat; do not drink it." Witness further said to England, "If you have no means of employment, and no means of existence, you had better come out with me on the farm for three or four weeks, and see if any thing turns up." England then went with witness and remained on the farm at Outram for three weeks, and then he said, "I think I will go back to town again." Witness replied, "Please yourself." England did not give any sign of contemplating suicide. He seemed to be rather low spirited. He was very temperate while he was with witness. Witness did not believe England when he said he had had nothing to eat for a week.

Other evidence was given as to where deceased lived, his habits, his being in want of funds and in low spirits.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity by taking poison, the nature whereof there was not sufficient evidence to show.

The following rider was added to the verdict: — "The jury are of opinion that the Coroner's Court and a morgue for the reception of dead bodies awaiting inquest are urgently required in Dunedin, and they trust the proper authorities will consider the matter without delay."  -Clutha Leader, 18/6/1880.

 

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

Alfred Goldsmith, (1847-1/5/1877). "a drop too much"

INQUEST.

Mr Coroner Hocken and a jury of twelve, of whom Edward Holmes was appointed foreman, held an inquiry at the Hospital today touching the death of Alfred Goldsmith. The following evidence was taken: -

Theresa Maria Goldsmith: The deceased, who was my husband, was named Alfred Goldsmith. We lived at Kensington, and had been married about three and a half years. My husband was a laborer, and a native of Sussex. He was about twentynine years of age at the time of his death. He was not at work last Saturday, owing to the rain, but stopped at home and did odd jobs about the house. On the Friday evening he seemed very low-spirited, and I fetched some beer, some of which he drank and then went to bed. On Saturday evening he went to the store, and on returning to the house asked me if I would have some brandy. I replied “Yes," and he went and fetched a shillingsworth, of which he drank about a third. He afterwards gave me a pound note and told me to get a bottle of brandy, adding, “Don’t spend all the pound.” I did not see him take any of the brandy from the bottle, but I had some and then went to bed. This was about twelve o’clock. He shortly afterwards came to bed, and kissed me, saying “God bless you.” This was his usual custom, and I did not then nor during the whole of the Saturday notice anything peculiar about him — he was apparently in his ordinary health and spirits. On Friday he was low-spirited, but I have seen him like that before, though I did not knew the reason. About two years ago he was sitting looking at some trees, when he remarked to me, “Theresa, what a fine tree that would be for a man to hang himself on.” I said, “Alfred, what would your father and mother think of you if they heard you speak like that.” After I had been in bed some time — I cannot say how long — I was awoke by hearing a great noise, and, on looking up, saw mv husband hanging by a rope round his neck to the bedroom door, which was half-open. He was struggling and making a noise. His feet were some inches from the floor. I jumped out. of bed and screamed out, “Oh God! Alfred,” and then cut the rope and let him fall on to the floor. He was not sensible then, but was breathing. I then ran to Mrs Miller and Mrs Attywell and told them what had occurred, and someone went for Dr Cowie, but before he came life was extinct. When I cut deceased down I rubbed his body to try and do him some good. I know of no cause why he should commit suicide. He was a very temperate man. Sometimes I take a little drop too much, but that would not depress the deceased — indeed he would have been the first to give it to me. There was a little case, which was used as a seat, near his feet when I saw him hanging. — To a juror: Deceased was my second husband, and I have no children by him, but we lived very happily. 

Elizabeth Attywell; I live at Kensington, next doer to Mrs Goldsmith’s. Between one and two o’clock yesterday (Sunday) morning I heard a loud row going on in Mrs Goldsmith’s house. There was no one in their house but themselves. In about an hour afterwards I heard some noise as of a body falling on to the floor, and immediately afterwards Mrs Goldsmith came and screamed out, “Murder; my husband has hanged himself.” I went with her into the house, and saw the deceased bolstered up with pillows against the bedstead. The rope was hanging to the door, and a brandy box was behind it, with a lighted candle on it. I saw the mark of the rope on deceased’s neck. Mrs Goldsmith was talking incoherently to the deceased, who was not then dead. He lived for some minutes after I went into the house, but was insensible. I rushed out of the house in my chemise, and alarmed the police. I last saw deceased alive at 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, when he seemed to be in good health and spirits. Mrs Goldsmith frequently took too much liquor, and had been drinking heavily for a fortnight before this occurrence. Deceased was a very quiet man, and I think he took to heart the intemperate habits of his wife. I always considered him a healthy man, and of sound mind.

Dr Cowie: About five o’clock yesterday morning I was called to see deceased, and upon getting to the house saw him propped up against the bed. Life was extinct, and I should think he had been dead about an hour. There was a deep mark on the right side of the neck, apparently caused by the pressure of the rope. So far as I could judge Mrs Goldsmith was sober.

Elizabeth Miller, a neighbor of Mrs Goldsmith’s, said: Between nine and ten o’clock on Saturday night I went in to Mrs Goldsmith's. The deceased came in bringing a number of articles among which was a shillings-worth of brandy, which his wife had told him to fetch. Mrs Goldsmith had some of the brandy, which she ordered her husband to give to her. She was a woman of intemperate habits, and ordered deceased about like a dog. I saw Goldsmith at about one o’clock on Sunday morning, when he was perfectly sober and in good health. I then went to bed, and some time afterwards was awakened by hearing Mrs Goldsmith screaming out that her husband had hanged himself. I thought she was under the influence of the drink. Deceased had not a very happy life with his wife, who used to tell him to go up country and get out of her sight, and all sorts of things. 

Constable O’Brien, stationed at Kensington: At twenty minutes past four yesterday morning Mrs Attywell called at the station, and said that Mr Goldsmith had hanged himself. I went across to the house immediately, and saw deceased sitting on the floor of his bedroom with his back leaning against the side of the bed. I saw that he was not quite dead, as his eyes were moving, but he was insensible and breathing very slowly. He was undressed, and had nothing on but his shirt and flannel. I looked at the door which was pointed out to me as the one from which the body had been cut down, and saw the rope produced (a piece of threestrand stuff about the size of an ordinary clothes-line) suspended from it. A loop was hanging over the top of the door, and a part of the rope which had been cut off was lying on the ground. The knot by which the line was hitched was drawn tight, as if a heavy strain had been put upon it. I have known deceased for about three weeks. He was a quiet, inoffensive man; but his wife was of drunken and dissolute habits. 

The Coroner: There seems to be no reasonable doubt but that the deceased committed suicide by hanging himself, and the question therefore for you, gentlemen, to decide is whether or not he was temporarily insane at the time the deed was committed. The evidence is to the effect that he was a man of quiet, sober habits, but I question whether the conduct of his wife — who, it has been shown, was addicted to drink — was not enough to drive him temporarily mad, and to cause him to embrace any means of getting rid of the misery into which her excesses plunged him. I think that a verdict of temporary insanity would be the most charitable and just one that you could return.

After a short deliberation the jury unanimously found “That deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity" and the Coroner thereupon called Mrs Goldsmith into the room, and, after explaining to her the verdict, admonished her in a few well-chosen words to abstain in future from drink, which had been the cause of so much misery to herself and the means of bringing her unfortunate husband to an untimely end.  -Evening Star, 30/4/1877.

Alfred Goldsmith was laid to rest in an unmarked, pauper's grave in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Breaking Windows. 

Theresa Maria Goldsmith was charged with breaking three panes of glass of the value of 3s in a Government cottage at Kensington, occupied by Elizabeth Miller. — Defendant, with an air of injured innocence, denied the charge. The ladies of Kensington, she said, were jealous of her, and on Friday she intended marrying and giving the aristocratic neighborhood the go-by. — His Worship fined her 5s, and ordered her to make good the damage done, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.  -Evening Star, 4/4/1878.

Thomas Mortimer Cassidy, (1859-28/5/1916). "somewhat eccentric"

A telegram from Cromwell this morning states that Thomas Cassidy, a wool classer. well known throughout Central Otago, committed suicide in a determined manner, having evidently cut his throat and then jumped into the river. The deceased was always somewhat eccentric.  -Dunstan Times, 29/5/1916.

Death of Thomas Cassidy.

An inquest concerning the death of Thomas Cassidy, whose body was found in the Lindis river on 28th ult, was held at Lindis Crossing on Monday last, before Mr R. D. Polson, J.P., acting coroner, and a jury of six. From evidence given it transpired that the deceased was employed by Mr P. McDonald, runholder. He had dinner as usual on Sunday, and appeared in his ordinary frame of mind. About 3.30 p.m., he intimated to another employee that he intended to walk down to Lindis Crossing (a distance of over two miles) to arrange some business, and would probably not return for tea. His employer saw deceased leave the homestead about 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. another resident, A. King, while riding alongside the river, noticed a body in the water, and immediately brought it ashore. It was that of deceased Cassidy, and there was a severe wound in his throat on the left side. Life was not extinct when the body was carried ashore, as there was a slight movement of the lips and eyes, but death followed almost immediately. On the following day an inspection was made of the river bank and deceased's overcoat and an empty razor case, identified as that owned by deceased, were found at a point about 300 yards above the footbridge. The razor was not found. It is presumed the deceased entered the water and inflicted the wound which caused his death. The evidence further indicated that deceased was embarrassed financially. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased was in financial difficulties which evidently preyed on his mind and that he committed suicide while in a lapse of temporary insanity. The remains were interred in the New Cemetery on Wednesday last. 

The deceased, whose age is given as 57 years, has been a resident in the Central district for a great many years, and followed the occupation of wool-classing, in which he was regarded as an expert.  -Cromwell Argus, 5/6/1916.

Cromwell New Cemetery. Photo from CODC.

Henry Smith Fish MHR, (1838-23/9/1897). "great natural ability"

DEATH OF MR H. S. FISH.

The protracted illness which has confined Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R., to his house for several months past terminated fatally this morning at about a-quarter to four o’clock. For some considerable time no hopes had been entertained for his recovery from the fell disease cancer, which had attacked him in the throat, and the certainty of death in the near future was no secret either to Mr Fish uimeolf or his family. Yesterday morning deceased was up, and appeared to be in much his usual state of health, except that his breathing was very hard. The physician who has been in regular attendance called in during the day and advised Mr Fish to go to his bed, recognising that a change had taken place. The doctor’s orders were complied with. Throughout the rest of the day and night those in attendance noticed nothing unusual to make them apprehensive of sudden calamity. The end was very peaceful. Mrs Fish and her eldest daughter were in the room at the time. There was no struggle. The heart’s action stopped, and the life of unwonted energy and activity passed calmly and peacefully away. The dying man had been partially or wholly unconscious for some time beforehand. After lying restless during the early part of the night he fell asleep at 2 a.m. Those in attendance observed him waken at about twenty minutes to four, and, a foreboding appearance being noticed, the doctor was sent for; but ere the medical man could arrive the patient’s sufferings were over. The immediate cause of death was that the disease had reached the heart either by the poison from the cancerous growth in the throat going to the vital organ, or else by a clot of blood forming there. Mr Fish had been confined to his residence since the close of the parliamentary session in April, and during the last two months was unable to receive visitors. He leaves a large family, consisting of Mrs fish, the two sons (Harry and Frederick), and six daughters. On their behalf we thank the many friends of all classes who have regularly inquired about the patient throughout his illness. 

Throughout his whole career Mr Fish was a devoted and ardent politician, and it is a strange coincidence that he should have died on the morning of the day that the Parliament of which he was a member was to be assembled. Throughout his public life Mr Fish always had many allies and opponents, but in death all differences are wiped away, and to-day Dunedin and New Zealand is sincerely mourning the loss of a man of more than ordinary intellect, genius, and ability. The news of the death cast quite a gloom over the City, and the flags on the Government, and municipal offices, business premises, and the shipping at the wharves were shown at half-mast as a token of respect.

Henry Smith Fish was born in London in 1838. His first and only school was Cave House, Uxbridge, which he left when, at the age of ten years, he was taken to South Australia by his father and mother. They remained in South Australia until 1851, when a move was made to Victoria, and young Fish, then thirteen years of age, went with his father to the Ovens diggings. A four months’ experience of that life sufficed Mr Fish the elder, who then went into business in Melbourne as painter and paperhanger, the son taking service as apprentice. In 1862 the family moved to Dunedin, and the son, then twenty-four years old, joined his father in founding the business of H. S. Fish and Son.

Five years later the junior partner entered municipal politics, being elected councillor for South Ward in an election whereat he polled 119 votes to Mr John Edmond’s 104. In 1869 he was re-elected, the voting being; Fish 226, “Steve” Hutchison 91. That same year Mr Fish stood for the mayoralty, but Mr T. Birch beat him by 568 to 514, Mr Dodd polling 74 and Mr J. Millar 38. In 1870, however, he gained the honor of being chief citizen, the election on the 12th January resulting in his polling 789 votes to Mr J. Griffen’s 724, the other candidates being Messrs W. H. Reynolds 54 and J. Millar 28. Mr Fish held the office of mayor until 1873 — not, however, without opposition, as in 1871 he had a contest with Messrs L. Thoneman and T. Birch (Fish 762, Thoneman 633, Birch 179). and in 1872 Mr T. R. Rossbotham put up against him. At the expiry of his term as mayor, in 1873, Mr Fish was beaten for the councillorship — his first defeat — Mr Evan Prosser polling 271 votes to Mr Fish’s 214. The spell from public duties did not, however, last long. In 1874 Mr Fish re-entered the Council as a member for South Ward. Each ward had three members, and, two having to be returned at the 1874 election, the ratepayers conferred the honor upon Mr Fish and Mr H. J. Walter — a pair who afterwards fought many a bitterly-contested battle on public questions. In 1875 Mr Fish was balloted out at his own request. On the 24th July, 1875, he rejoined the Council, having been returned unopposed as a member for South Ward; and when, six months later, he resigned owing to his having been made a member of the Harbor Board, he was again returned, winning an election in which his opponents were Messrs G. P. Farquhar and W, E. Cousens. Being balloted out in 1877, Mr Fish was once more elected, this time in company with Mr James Gore, these candidates defeating Mr John Edmond. In 1878 the subject of this notice stood for the mayoralty against Mr Walter and got defeated, the voting being: Walter 854, Fish 581. That year the Municipal Corporations Act came into force, necessitating a new election all round, and Mr Fish was returned for South Ward with Messrs J. T. Roberts, and J. Gore, Mr Cousens being the defeated candidate. This councillorship he held until 1881, when he retired by rote. Meantime, he had been twice more disappointed in regard to the mayoralty. In 1879 there was a well-remembered contest in which Mr Fish won, polling 903 to Mr Walters' 506 but Mr Fish was ousted on petition by the magistrate on the ground of his being interested in a sub-contract under the Corporation. Trying again in 1880, Mr Fish was beaten for the mayoralty, Mr A. H. Ross polling 872 to Mr Fish's 668. After these experiences Mr Fish stood aside until 1886, when he went back as councillor, beating A. Cairns by 346 to 252. He was reelected unopposed in 1886 and also in 1892. In December of the latter year Mr Fish stood for the mayoralty and was defeated, the voting being — Mr O. Haynes 938, Mr Fish 753, Mr C. R. Chapman 66. In 1893, however, he gained a victory for the mayoralty, securing 1,067 votes to Mr C. R. Chapman’s 749. Mr Fish was re-elected mayor in 1894, beating Mr W. Dawson by 833 to 747. Asking for a further term of office in 1895, he contested the mayoralty with Mr N. Y. A. Wales, and sustained defeat, the polling being: Wales 1,056, Fish 703. In December of 1896 Mr Fish stood once more for the councillorship, and beat Mr H. B. Shacklock by 347 to 191, and held the position until August 2 last. To this summarised recital it may be added as a record of bare fact that Mr Fish was the most active man Dunedin’s municipal politics have produced. He took a prominent part in the scheme for widening Princes street south; he was the prime factor in the acquirement of the gas supply by the Corporation; he worked hard for the purchase of the waterworks and the extension of the water supply; the abattoirs scheme owns him as its father; and the last great work in which he took a leading hand was the plan for the conversion of the City’s loans — a scheme which has been partially carried out, and would probably have developed to fruition but for the untimely death of the City’s delegate in London, Mr R. H. Leary. 

Mr Fish’s Provincial Council record began in 1870. Sir (then Mr) Francis Dillon Bell’s seat for the City of Dunedin became vacant on account of his having failed to attend during two successive sessions, and, an election being held on the 2nd November, Mr Fish went in with 395 votes, Mr Bathgate polling 370 and Mr T. Birch 149. He held the seat, however, but for less than six months. The elections of March, 1871, following the return of Mr Macandrew as Superintendent against Mr Donald Reid, found Mr Fish rejected by the constituency, the members chosen being Messrs Reynolds 887, Cargill 878, Turnbull 713, Bathgate 630, Barton 609, Cutten 575, and Duncan 545, while Mr Fish was in the defeated batch with 305 votes. In August of 1872 he stood for the Caversham seat and was beaten by Sir (then Mr) Robert Stout, the polling being Stout 148, Fish 109, Leary 90. Mr Fish, however, attained his purpose in the following year. There was a bye-election on the 1st April, 1873, caused by the resignation of Mr E. B. Cargill, and the subject of our notice headed the poll with 609 votes, Mr E. Prosser polling 520 and Mr C. S. Reeves 155. The General Elections followed on the 10th of June in the same year, and once more Mr Fish was successful, being found fourth in order on the declaration of the poll. The numbers of the returned candidates were — Mr J. Davie 897, Mr G. Turnbull 897, Mr W. H. Reynolds 828, Mr Fish 690, Mr G. K. Turton 619, Mr B. C. Haggitt 559, and Mr J. Bathgate 549. Mr Fish retained this seat until the abolition of the provinces in November, 1876. From the 25th May to the 3rd of June, 1875. he held the office of Commissioner of Railways, taking this place in the Executive formed by Mr Horace Bastings in succession to Mr Donald Reid as Provincial Secretary — an office, by the way, which lost its separateness when Mr Reid returned to power. 

Mr Fish first aspired to a seat in the House of Representatives at the time of the abolition of the provinces, when as an abolitionist he was rejected along with Mr W. H. Reynolds, also an abolitionist. On that occasion Messrs Stout, Larnach, and Macandrew, provincialists, were the accepted of the people. In 1881 he however captured the South Dunedin seat in most decisive style, polling 565 votes t0 Mr A. H. Ross’s 283. Three years later Mr Fish and Mr James Gore fought a great battle for the same seat, and the new man triumphed by the narrow majority of 16, the polling being Gore 457, Fish 441. At the next election, in 1887, when the Stout-Vogel Government were sent to the right-about, Mr Fish and Mr Gore were once more the candidates for South Dunedin, and the first named turned the tables on his old opponent, the returning officer’s declaration being — Fish 847, Gore 522. In 1890, when the City constituencies were unified, he went in as "the mediocre member," Mr Pinkerton heading the poll with 3,203 votes, Mr Fish second with 2,929 and Mr. W. Hutchison securing 2,828. This was the Labor ticket, in support of the Ballance Administration. Three years later Mr Fish suffered defeat, being fourth on the poll, while Messrs Pinkerton, Earnshaw, and Hutchison were returned as friends of the Seddon Government, In 1896, when standing as an Oppositionist, Mr Fish went in once more, the polling being — Mr Scobie Mackenzie 7,810, Mr J. A. Millar 6,202, and Mr Fish 6,083, and this seat he retained up to the last.

Amongst Mr Fish’s other public services, it should be mentioned that he was for six years a member of the Otago Harbor Board. He was elected as the City Council's nominee with Mr Henry Walter in 1877. In February, 1883, he was elected chairman, after the retirement of Mr Keith Ramsay, but resigned on July 5 of the same year and withdrew altogether from membership of the Board.

Apart from public matters, Mr Fish was a prominent member of the friendly societies. From the time of his arrival in the colony he was associated with the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows. He joined the Albion Lodge by transfer from Victoria, and went through all the lodge chairs and subsequently those of the district, being elected Provincial Grand Master for the Otago district in October, 1878. The annual meeting that year was held at Lawrence. As an Oddfellow the late Mr Fish gave that energy and devoted interest that have characterised him throughout his eventful life, and was ever in the forefront when any matter was proposed for the good of the Order. He also took an active interest in early Freemasonry in this town, being a very member and Past Master of the Lodge of Dunedin. He went through the Grand Lodge offices, and was Provincial Grand Secretary and afterwards Deputy-provincial Grand Master under the late Bro. John Hyde Harris in the early seventies. Latterly, however, Mr Fish had not given that time to Freemasonry which he had done in the past. 

In athletic matters Mr Fish also took a lively interest, and was an active member of the old Citizens’ Cricket Club, and at the time of his death was a vice-president of the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club. 

We are requested to intimate that, in accordance with the desire of the deceased, the funeral ceremony will be as simple as possible. The only service, therefore, will be that of the Church of England. The different lodges will kindly attend, and accept this intimation of the deceased’s wish. The Right Hon. the Premier, on being advised of the death of the junior member for the City, wired:

I am very sorry indeed to hear of the death of Mr Fish. His many years of faithful service to the citizens of Dunedin will, I feel sure, be ever gratefully remembered by them. As a member of Parliament he also did good work. Though we differed occasionally, I always recognised his great natural ability and earnestness of purpose. It was only yesterday, in the midst of all my anxieties and the many public matters I have to attend to at this juncture, I felt impelled to send him a telegram, little dreaming that his end was so near. The mystery is solved: he has crossed the bar and my hope is that he has entered eternal, smooth water. I have sent a telegram to Mrs Fish sympathising with the bereaved ones in their sad and irreparable loss, and it is my intention to ask the House to adjourn as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased. — R. J. Seddon.  -ES, 23/9/1897.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.  DCC photo.

Sergeant Michael O'Keefe, (1826-1/8/1895). "about to strike a match"

INQUEST.

Au inquest was held at Heffernan's South Dunedin Hotel this afternoon before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury (Mr Philip H. Brady, foreman) on the body of Michael O'Keefe, an elderly man, who was found dead in his home in Carey's avenue, South Dunedin, this morning. 

Peter Johnston, coal merchant, identified the body as that of Michael O'Keefe. Latterly, when well enough, deceased was doorkeeper at places of amusement. He was about sixty years of age, and a widower. He was a tenant of witness's, and lived by himself. His health had not been very good lately; he was in the hospital two winters ago. Witness last saw him alive on Tuesday morning. Deceased used to come to witness's place almost every day to see the newspaper. On Wednesday witness did not see him, and to-day witness and his partner (Mr Robertson) went to his house. They looked through the window and saw his hat and spectacles on the table. They burst in the door and found the man dead in bed. The bed clothes were covering him. He had a box of matches in his left hand, and appeared to have been about to strike a match. 

Sergeant Brown, stationed at South Dunedin, said he had known the deceased for the last twenty-three years. Deceased was a member of the police force from 1861 to 1875, and when he left the service he ranked as first-class sergeant. He was a native of Ireland. Lately he had suffered a deal from rheumatic gout. He had a married daughter, living somewhere between Dunedin and Oamaru, and a son, who is in the railway service in Auckland. So far as witness could learn deceased had not been seen since Tuesday.

Dr Jeffcoat deposed that he examined the body this afternoon. It appeared as if the man had been sitting up in bed, and had fallen back on his pillow. Witness thought the man had been dead quite forty-eight hours, and that the cause of death was heart disease.

Constable Willis also gave evidence. 

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.  -Evening Star, 18/7/1895.

Michael O’Keefe was found dead in his house at South Dunedin to-day. Death was probably due to heart disease. The deceased had been a sergeant in the Otago and Southland police, and had also served in the Victorian force.  -Southland Times, 19/7/1895.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

Ada Lippert, (1856-20/7/1894). "left a lighted candle"

FIRE AT THE SCOTIA HOTEL.

A WOMAN BURNT TO DEATH. 

A fire broke out in the Scotia Hotel, at the corner of Dundas and Leith streets, last night between nine and ten o’clock. It originated in one of the upstairs bedrooms, and spread to two adjoining bedrooms, but the alarm being speedily given by a boy named Chadwick, who was in the vicinity at the time, the fire brigade put in a prompt appearance, and prevented the flames from going further. Considerable damage was done, however, to the other rooms by smoke and water, and the total monetary loss is put down at £350 and £200 in the furniture and stock. The building was insured for £350, and the stable, which was not touched by the fire, for £50 in the Norwich Union Office. The stock was insured for £40, the furniture for £250, a piano for £60, books for £60, and billiard table and fittings for £40 — £450 in all — in the New Zealand Office.

It was known from the first that Mrs Ada Lippert, the wife of the licensee of the hotel, was in the room in which the fire started, and strenuous efforts were made to save her, but all without avail, A dense smoke filled the whole building, but, notwithstanding its presence, Messrs H, Cousins, J. Dryden, G. Davis (residents of the neighborhood), Constable Cooney, and others made attempts at rescue, only, however, to find themselves compelled to retreat before the blinding smoke and the increasing heat. The window of Mrs Lippert’s room was broken, also the window of the adjoining room, but from neither of those sources could assistance be rendered to the unfortunate woman. Everything possible was done to rescue per, but all efforts were fruitless, and when the fire had been subdued and her room was entered her body, charred so much that it was almost unrecognisable, was found lying across the bed. It is supposed that, after the servant left the room Mrs Lippert fell asleep, and that the candle in some manner ignited the furnishings. For some days past if is said that Mrs Lippert had been addicted to drink, but the testimony of her husband and the servant shows that on retiring last night she was sober. 

Mary Moloney, employed at the hotel as domestic servant for the past fortnight, states that she accompanied Mrs Lippert to her bedroom, situate on the upper storey, at nine o’clock. She remained in the room until Mrs Lippert retired to bed, and she then left the room, leaving a candle burning on a small table close to the bedside. As she was going from the room Mrs Lippert said “Good-night” to her, also remarking "You had better go to bed, too.” Miss Moloney went downstairs to the kitchen, where she remained until a quarter to ten, reading the evening paper. At that hour she went upstairs to go to her room, situate near Mrs Lippert's, and on reaching the upper storey she found the passage filled with dense smoke. She called out “Fire!" and Mr Lippert rushed upstairs, but was obliged to return, owing to the smoke that was issuing from the bedrooms. He went upstairs again, when he found that flames had broken out in his wife’s bedroom. By this time several persons had gathered outside. Two or three of them tried to effect an entrance to Mrs Lippert’s room, but were unsuccessful. 

Mr Lippert, the licensee, who bought the hotel about nine months ago, says that he was in the billiard room when the girl gave the alarm. He ran upstairs, but on account of the thick smoke could not make his way along the passage to his wife's room, and had to return to the ground floor. He saw his wife when she was going to bed at nine o’clock, and she then appeared sober. It was not unusual for her to retire at that hour. 

An inquest on the body of Mrs Lippert was held this afternoon, and had not come to a conclusion at 4.15.  -Evening Star, 21/7/1894.

THE FATAL FIRE.

THE INQUEST. 

An inquest on the body of Mrs Ada Lippert was held in the Scotia Hotel on Saturday afternoon at three o'clock before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six (Mr Johnston foreman). Mr Sim, instructed by Mr J. A. Hislop, appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of Mr Lippert. 

After the jury had viewed the burnt portion of the building and had seen the body as it was found in one of the rooms after the fire, evidence was taken. 

Otto Hugo Lippert, the deceased's husband, who was very much affected while giving his evidence, said he had seen the body, which he recognised as that of his late wife. She was thirty-eight years of age, and was a native of Nelson. He last saw his wife alive at a quarter to nine on Friday night in the commercial room, just previous to her going upstairs. She asked Miss Moloney, the servant, to go upstairs with her, and afterwards he heard the two in the bedroom laughing and talking. About a quarterpast nine he heard his wife rattling a table, which she was in the habit of doing when she wanted someone to go to her. Witness sang out to the servant, and the girl went upstairs. He subsequently heard his wife and the girl laughing and talking again. A little before ten the girl gave the alarm of fire, and witness at once rushed up the stairs, but at the top he was met by thick smoke. He called out "Ada." He could not get into the passage leading to his wife's room, as the smoke was choking him, and he then ran downstairs to break the indicator on the hotel, but he found it had already been broken. He ran upstairs again. When he reached the landing he went down on his hands and knees, intending to crawl along the passage. A young man who had followed him up lit a candle near the floor, but it would not burn on account of the smoke. Witness was going to crawl along the passage when the young man, whom he did not know, pulled him back to the top of the stair. Witness had to go downstairs, as he felt that if he persevered he would be suffocated. He could not speak, and when he reached the ground floor some friends took him out of the house. On the street he saw that a ladder had been placed against his wife's bedroom window, and that a man was on it. After taking breath witness made a third attempt, but with three or four others he found it impossible to get near his wife's room. There was no flame at that time, only dense smoke. He went below to the street again, and Mr Jago took him to his house, where he remained until he had revived, when he returned to the hotel. On Friday both he and his wife were sober. In the afternoon his wife told him she would go to bed early as she intended to give the house a thorough clean out. She had been on her feet about the house all the day. Witness was not well himself, and lay down for a little while in the afternoon. 

To the Jury: There was no fireplace in the room, and there were no hangings on the bed. His own supposition as to the origin of the fire was that the candle had been placed on the little table at the side of the bed, and that his wife in turning in bed had shifted one of the pillows against the light. She was a very sound sleeper. 

To the Foreman: When he went outside he did not see his wife at the window, and if anyone said that she had been seen at both windows they must have been mistaken as far as one window was concerned, because there was a large dressing-case in front of it, which prevented anyone from seeing into the room. 

The Foreman said he had been told that the woman was seen at the two windows, and that supported his belief that she was moving about in the room, and that at last she had fallen back on the bed.

To the Coroner: His wife had been drinking occasionally lately, but on Friday she had only two small glasses of beer and half a wineglass of Australian brandy. At times she suffered from a heart trouble, and the brandy did her good. 

Mary Moloney, domestic servant, said that on leaving Mrs Lippert's room she left a lighted candle on the centre of a little table near the bed. She could not say what time elapsed before she went upstairs again, but from the evidence it appeared to be about half an hour. When she was going upstairs she found smoke, and on going two steps higher it was very thick, and she at once cried out "Fire!" and also gave the alarm on the street. When she left Mrs Lippert's room the door was open. 

To the Jury: From Mrs Lippert's appearance witness did not think she had been drinking. The candle, which was a short one, was about eighteen inches from the bed, and when witness was in the room Mrs Lippert was lying about the middle of the bed with her head on the pillow. 

Captain Mitchell, of the City Fire Brigade, said that a dressing-case in front of one of the windows prevented his men from making their way into the room, and it had at last to be knocked over. After the fire had been put out, witness, with others, found the body in the position in which the jury saw it. 

John T. Dryden, carpenter, living four doors from the hotel in Dundas street, was next called. Witness was in bed when someone knocked at the door and said that Lippert's hotel was on fire, and Mrs Lippert was in the room. Witness ran down to the hotel and into the bar. He met Mr Lippert, who was very excited. He was singing out: "Mrs Lippert is on fire! Save her, save her!" He also said she was in the room above the bar. Witness ran upstairs, and Mr Lippert followed till he came to the top landing. He directed witness to where she was. He went through the top passage and towards the bedroom. He went down on his hands and knees and crawled along the passage, which was in flames. The fire was most intense in Mrs Lippert's bedroom. He could only get about 12ft from the door, and then had to retire in a suffocating condition. He went out into the street, and vainly endeavored to get a ladder. He then went into the building and along the passage, and attempted to get into the room again, but without success. On going out again into the street he found a man placing a ladder against the window looking into Leith street. The man went up it, and the people shouted to him to break the window. He tried to make some explanation, but was not heard. Another ladder was procured, and witness on getting up found the window was raised. He could not say who put it up. The lower portion of the window was as far up as it could go. The room was perfectly dark, and filled with a very dense smoke. He could see no fire. He put his foot through the window and on to the floor. He felt round with his hand, but could feel nothing. He then wrapped his coat about his head and felt about again, but the smoke was so dense and suffocating he had to retire. The room appeared to be very large, or else he might have made a dive in. Then, again, he was afraid of a sudden combustion, as was usually the case where there was a lot of smoke, and when he was descending the ladder a large body of flame suddenly shot out of the window. If he had known where the body was he thought he could have got it, as he must have been within a few inches of it. There was no moan or motion to indicate life, and from what witness knew of smoke and gases he felt sure that deceased could not have lived in that room for a minute. Witness's conviction was that the fire originated in the passage, and not in the bedroom. There was no smell of a burning body. Constable Cooney was quickly on the scene, and rendered every assistance. 

Sergeant Geerin gave formal evidence. 

The Coroner having reviewed the evidence, the jury returned a verdict that deceased met her death by suffocation through a fire at the Scotia Hotel, but there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. The inquest was not closed until seven o'clock.  -Evening Star, 23/7/1894.

Ada Lippert lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Hocken Library photo.