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.

Bridget Lee, (1888-12/101890). "such a good girl"

A child two years old named Bridget Lee was admitted to the hospital on Saturday last from the neighborhood of St. Kilda suffering from a severe scalding, received through falling into a vessel containing hot water. The misadventure terminated fatally, the child dying at half-past nine o'clock last night. An inquest will probably be held.  -Evening Star, 13/10/1890.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held by Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six (of whom Thomas Corbin was chosen foreman), this morning, at the hospital on the body of the child Bridget Lee, who died on Sunday night. 

Honora Casey gave evidence that she was the mother of the child, and lived near the Carisbrook Grounds. On Saturday last witness put on the fire an oblong five-gallon boiler to heat some water. She did not think it boiled when she took it off the fire and placed it on the floor of the kitchen. The lid was off, and there were three children in the house — deceased and two others, aged ten and seven years. Witness went out having them all in the kitchen. She was told that Bridget had been such a good girl. Witness looked round at the child, who at the same time turned to look at the girl who had been praising her and fell back into the boiler of water. Witness lifted the child out at once, and tried to get her clothes off, but could not. She then put her in a tub in which there was some cold water to cool her, and then took the clothes off.

Witness then got some baking soda, and, making a lotion of it, dipped a handkerchief in it and wrapped it round the body. She saw scalds, but should not think they were deep. After sending to Mrs Mitchell for more baking soda witness took the child to the hospital. 

Ellen Mitchell gave evidence as to seeing the child much scalded, and as to advising last witness to take it to the hospital. Mrs Casey appeared very much excited and distressed, and was apparently very fond of the child, which she looked after well, so far as witness over saw. 

Dr Copland, resident surgeon at the hospital, deposed that the child when brought in was badly scalded about the trunk and limbs, chiefly near the back and side. On Sunday night, about seven o’clock, she became much worse, and died about half-past nine. The cause of death was shock occasioned by the scalds. The child had already been attended to when brought to him. 

A verdict of “Death from accidental scalding” was returned.  -Evening Star, 14/10/1890.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

Laura Emily Eliza McKellar, (1836-5/4/1890). "rhubarb and chalk"

 LA GRIPPE. 

SUDDEN DEATH AT DUNEDIN. 

[BY TELEGEAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, this day. 

A married woman named McKellar, living at Athol Place, was found in an unconscious state at her residence on Saturday afternoon, and died within an hour after admission to the Hospital. The deceased had been suffering from influenza. 

Heavy rain fell last night. The weather is threatening to-day.   -Aukland Star, 7/4/1890.

SUDDEN DEATH.

An inquest was held this morning before the City Coroner (Mr E. H. Carew) at the hospital on the death of a married woman named Laura Emily Eliza McKellar, who had been found in an unconscious state at her residence, Athol place, on Saturday afternoon. Dr Roberts, who was called in, advised her removal to the hospital, and about two hours after her arrival there she died. The evidence called at the inquest was that of 

Cuthbert McKellar, deceased’s husband, who stated that his wife was forty-four years of age, and had been in delicate health for some twelve months, but had no particular reason at any time to call in a doctor, having a dislike to do so. On Friday she complained of suffering from influenza, and remained at home all day. When witness went to work at 9 o’clock on Saturday deceased was in bed; said she would not get up just then, but later on. Observed nothing in his wife’s health to cause alarm. Witness had never seen his wife so bad as she was on that occasion. He had often advised her to consult a doctor, and on this occasion she said if she did not feel better she would send for a doctor on Monday, On returning home at three o’clock on Saturday witness found some of the neighbors in the house, and that the doctor and a cab had been sent for. Deceased seemed much worse than in the morning, appearing to be somewhat deranged and partially unconscious. She was subsequently brought to the hospital, and witness heard of her death about an hour afterwards. He fancied it was a case of sudden collapse. 

Dr Roberts gave evidence as to having been called in on the occasion referred to at two o’clock on Saturday. He found deceased lying dressed on the sofa in a very low state and pulseless; there were several neighbors in the room. On examination he found her to be suffering from pneumonia, both lungs being inflamed. According to what he was able to gather from the neighbors deceased had received little attention, medical or otherwise, during the fortnight that he heard she had been ill. He advised her immediate removal to the hospital. She could not suddenly have become so ill as she was when he was called in. In the absence of proper attention, inflammation of the lungs was a serious disease. His opinion was that deceased was suffering from a complication of disorders resulting from some previous condition. There were no symptoms of influenza when he examined her, but she might have had it. 

Michael King stated that he used to run errands for deceased. On going to her house between ten and eleven on Saturday morning he found deceased lying on the stairs. From her position she appeared to have been coming downstairs. He spoke to her, but she did not appear to hear. He reported the matter to some neighbors, who sent him away for a doctor. He went first for Dr Martin, but finding him out called in Dr Roberts. Elizabeth Robertson deposed that she lived next door to deceased, who lived very quietly and was reserved in her manner. She had been il1 for a fortnight, during which time witness had spoken to her three or four times. Deceased had complained of diarrhoea and shivering fits, and looked very bad. On Thursday witness spoke to her about her health, and deceased said she had been taking some rhubarb and chalk, which her husband had given her. Witness advised her to send for a doctor, and she said she would ask her husband to do so if she felt no better. Deceased had never expressed to witness a dislike to send for a doctor, but had once signified her intention of getting a nurse, and expressed a dislike to go to the hospital. Witness considered that deceased should not be left alone, considering the state she was in. On Saturday morning, when deceased was found by the boy King, witness and another neighbor decided to send at once for a doctor. There was no appearance of want in the house.

Elizabeth Bishop, another neighbor, corroborated the previous witness’s evidence as to finding deceased ill on Saturday morning. 

Dr Fooks, resident surgeon at the hospital, stated that he had examined deceased just after her admission to the institution on Saturday and found her in a dying condition. He could hardly feel her pulse, and found her suffering from inflammation of both lungs, and also from pleurisy. He did not think her state could have come on suddenly. She died about an hour and three-quarters after her admission. 

This concluded the evidence. 

The Coroner expressed the opinion that it was a pity deceased had not received proper attendance. The medical evidence showed that deceased must have been in a much worse state than her husband had given the jury to understand. Had he been a man of any strength of mind he would have insisted upon sending for a doctor whether deceased wished it or no; and it was decidedly improper on his part to have left her on Saturday morning without attendance. 

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of death from natural causes, adding the following rider: — “The jury express their disapproval of medical assistance not being called in by the husband, and of the deceased being left without attendance of any kind on the morning of her decease.”  -Evening Star, 7/4/1890.

Laura McKellar had been fourteen years in New Zealand. She lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Thomas Stevens, (1874-20/9/1889). "cheerful and talkative"

Dunedin, September 20. Thomas Stevens, aged 15, died at the Industrial School this morning. Deceased had been an inmate of the institution and had been licensed out, but being taken unwell, was returned to the school a few hours before he died.  -Ashburton Guardian, 20/9/1889.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Industrial School yesterday afternoon, before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six (Mr Samuel McCracken, foreman), on the body of Thomas Stevens, who died at the institution early yesterday morning. 

Elijah Titchener, master of the Industrial School, identified the body shown to the jury as that of Thomas Stevens, who was admitted an inmate in August 1878. He was then four years of age. His mother was Mary Stevens, and she had been employed as cook at the fever hospital on the Town Belt. He remained in the school till the end of 1886, and all the time his health was fairly good; but he had a difficulty in travelling fast, being always robust and fat, and he seemed as if he could not breathe easily. He was licensed out to a bootmaker, but did not give any great satisfaction, and was returned to the school in March 1888. He was in the school for a few months, and then Mr Hough, flax-dresser, of Kaikorai Valley, took him till September 1888. Mr Joseph Graham, farmer, Pine Hill, next licensed him, and frequently wrote to witness stating that the boy was not very well, and that all the work he could be put to was minding the baby and doing work about the house. On Thursday, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Graham brought the boy to the school. Witness asked him what was the matter, and he said he had pains in his joints and in one of his groins. He was given a warm bath and then put to bed. 

Alfred Sarney, an attendant employed at the school, said there was nothing in the boy's appearance yesterday afternoon to lead him to think that medical assistance was necessary. The boy was cheerful and talkative, and said he could not do hard work.

Clarence Mewer, living at the school, said he worked in a blacksmith's shop in Caversham. He occupied a room with Stevens on Thursday night, and when he went to bed Stevens was lying on his right side with his face away from witness' bed. He was breathing heavily, and groaned now and again. About a o'clock yesterday morning witness awoke, and saw Stevens standing by his bed. Witness asked him what was the matter, but got no answer, and Stevens turned away and staggered and fell against the wall. Witness looked for a match, but it was some time before he found one, and he then lit the gas and found that Stevens was dead. He placed a blanket over the body, put on his trousers, and then sat in the next room till a quarter to 6 yesterday morning, when Barney came. Witness could not say why he did not call someone when he saw the boy was dead. Witness had heard Mr Titchener tell the boys that if anything serious happened to any of them in the night it would be best to let him know. Witness' age was 17 years 7 months. 

Herbert Henry Harris stated that he gave Mewer a match and went into his room with him, where he saw Stevens lying on the floor. Mewer lifted up deceased's head and then put a blanket over the body. Mewer told a number of boys in the room that Stevens was dead, but none of them said anything about calling Mr Titchener.

Joseph Graham and William Arthur Fox also gave evidence. 

Dr H. Burns, medical officer of the institution, said he examined Stevens about two years ago, and the symptoms he found pointed to heart disease. He examined the body this morning, and from the appearances he would say that death resulted from asphyxia. There were no marks of violence on the body. Witness thought the cause of death was heart disease.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that death resulted from natural causes.  -Otago Daily Times, 21/9/1889.

Thomas Stevens was buried in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery.

Margaret Leary, (1854-18/3/1889). "from the lamp"

 BURNED TO DEATH.

(BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Dunedin, this day.

A fire broke out in a three-roomed tenement in Castle-street, shortly after 11 o'clock last night, and resulted in Margaret Leary, the sole occupant, being burned to death before assistance could reach her. The place was a semi-detached cottage owned by Mr Keas. Deceased was about 35 years of age and was not of very temperate habits, and there seems little doubt she was drinking last night. On returning home she must have gone to the middle room of the three and lain down upon the bed; this room was a bedroom. Behind that was the kitchen and front room tolerably comfortably furnished as a sitting-room. The brigade extinguished the fire before any harm was done to the tenement adjoining. Deceased's half of the building was quite gutted, and on penetrating to the bedroom the firemen found the body of the woman lying on what seemed to be a quantity of straw bedding, the bedstead having given way under her body, and she was shockingly burned, the head and shoulders being completely charred up, also legs below the knees. A fragment of the lamp was found in the bedroom and it was probably by the upsetting of this that the fire occurred. The cottage was insured for £100 in the South British.  -Auckland Star, 19/3/1889.

THE FATAL FIRE IN CASTLE STREET.

INQUEST.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Margaret Leary, who was burnt to death on Monday night, in Castle street, was held at the Bowling Green Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six, of whom Mr J. Sherwin was chosen foreman. 

Geo. Bawden, labourer, residing in Filleul street, deposed that he identified the body on view as that of Margaret Leary; he identified it by the jacket. He last saw deceased wearing the jacket at about a quarter to 10 o'clock on Monday night in Hanover street. A woman named Brown was there with her. Witness spoke to deceased, and she was under the influence of liquor, but quite capable of taking care of herself. Witness had known deceased for about 11 years. They came out in the Ayrshire from London together. Witness had seen her every week since. He believed her to be an unmarried woman. She was kept for the last year or so by a sailor on board the s.s. Kakanui. It was only during the last seven or eight weeks that she had taken to drink. No one lived with her. Her daughter ran away from home.

Alice Brown, residing in Scotland street, deposed that she knew the deceased, but not very intimately. She met her on Monday night at another person's house, and walked home with her, remaining in her house about 15 or 20 minutes. She left the house a little before 10 o'clock, There was nobody in the house when she left it, but the deceased, who appeared to have had a little drink, but was not incapable. When witness left the house deceased was sitting in the front room. There was a kerosene lamp in the room, but no fire. The deceased lit the lamp and wound the clock up after they went into the house. They had some beer in the house together. The deceased opened a bottle, but they did not drink all of it. They had no drink together before. The deceased was quite capable of walking home by herself. Witness had known the deceased ever since she landed in the colony, but was never intimate with her. Deceased was drinking owing to some family trouble, Witness thought that the trouble was about deceased's daughter.

Geo. Bawden, recalled, stated that ho thought the deceased was born in the county of Cork, and was about 35 years of age.

Henry Moffatt, ironmonger, residing in Leith street, deposed that he noticed the fire between halfpast 11 and 12 o'clock on Monday night. He was standing near Alexander's, the butcher, in Hanover street, when he saw some smoke. He thought it arose from some rubbish burning in the hospital grounds, but when he got to the hospital he discovered there was no fire there. He subsequently went over to Castle street, where he saw flames coming out of a house. There was no one about, and he thought the house was empty. He knocked up the people next door, and they told him that some one had been in the house that night singing. A woman then came down the right-of-wav and informed him that there was some one in the house. He then went round to the back, and was going to open the door, but he feared to do so as the place was all in flames inside, and the draught would cause them to come through. He subsequently went to the house next to the one which was burnt; it was full of smoke, but there seemed to be no one in it. He lit a match and crawled in a little way on his knees, and then came out. A fireman afterwards burst the door of the house that was burning open. There was a good bit of the house burnt before the crowd gathered, and the flames had a good hold before witness got to the house. 

Robert Robertson, superintendent of the City Fire Brigade, deposed that the alarm of fire was received at the station at about a quarter-past 11 o'clock. The brigade hastened to the scene of the fire, and the place was all in flames when they got to it. After the fire was all put out witness entered the back part of the premises, and went through the building. There were three rooms in it— a kitchen, bedroom, and a parlour, with a passage running through from the street door. On entering the bedroom witness immediately discovered the body of the deceased, lying face downwards, partly on the bed, which was level with the floor. The body was perfectly naked, the clothes having apparently been burnt away. From the position of the body, witness did not think the deceased had been in bed. After discovering the body he immediately sent for the police, into whose charge he gave it. He could not see what caused the fire, but it evidently broke out in the bedroom.

To the Foreman: Witness did not notice any remnants of a kerosene lamp or any candles.

To the Coroner: When the Fire Brigade arrived at the scene of the fire the front door was a little open, and the back door was burst open afterwards. 

Sergeant O'Neill deposed that he was on duty at the fire in Castle street on Tuesday morning, when the last witness called his attention lo a dead body lying in the centre room of the building. It was that of a female. The lower part of the body was naked, the clothing evidently having been burnt off. There was a pair of corsets and a slip-body on the body. Witness removed the body to the place where it was shown to the jury. The feet of the deceased were burnt away from the ankles, and portions of the body were considerably burnt. The left hand was burnt away and the right hand partly so. The flesh of the face was also partly burnt away. It would be impossible for a person to live with such injuries. He knew the woman Margaret Leary, but he could not recognise the body on view as hers. He knew that the woman lived in the house that was burnt. He was speaking to her about six weeks ago, and she told him that she was kept by a man on board of one of the boats, but he did not remember which.

The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said there was no reason to suspect that the fire originated from any other than an accidental cause. Possibly the woman, from the state she was in, left the lamp in an unsafe position or capsized it. It seemed pretty certain, at any rate, that the fire originated from the lamp.

The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was burnt to death by a fire; but there was no evidence to show how the fire originated.  -Otago Daily Times, 20/3/1889.

Margaret Leary lies in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.