The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-17 00:00:00

THE INQUEST:

Yesterday afternoon (Friday) the inquest was held
on the body of the deceased, at the residence of his
brother, Mr W. Spoke, J.P. for Wiltshire at Monk's-

park, near Corsham, by Mr Komm, coroner for the
liberty of Corsham, and a jury composed of respect-
able inhabitants of the place. The first witness can

amined was

Mr George Faller, son of Mr Fuller, of Neston-
park, who deposed—About half past 2 o'clock yes-
terday I left my father's house for the purpose of
shooting partridges. Deceased had fired off both
barrels before the accident occurred. About 4
o'clock I got over a low part of a loose stone wall,
at that place about 2ft. high, and I was about 60
yards from the place when I heard the report of a
gun, and looking round, thinking to see some birds,
I saw the deceased standing on the same part of the
wall I had just got over, without his gun, and
shortly after I saw him fall into the field I was then
in. I immediately went to his assistance, and found
a wound in his chest, bleeding, which I endeae
voured to stop. He was then sensible and spoke to
me, but did not long remain so. I stayed with him
about five minutes, and then left him in charge of
my keeper, Daniel Davis, and went for assistance.
I observed the gun lying by the side of the wall in
the field that I and the deceased ware in. One bar-
rel, the right, was then at half-cock, the left hand
barrel was discharged. I heard very little report,
and I should suppose that the muzzle of the gun
was very near the body of the deceased when it went
off.

Daniel Davis deposed—l am keeper to Mr. Ful

ler. Yesterday, a little before 4 o'clock, I was
marking birds for my master and the deceased, who

were shooting. At that time I saw the deceased go
up to a low part of the wall to get over. He had
then his gun in his hand. Almost immediately after
I heard the report of a gun, and I looked towards
my master, and on seeing him running towards the
deceased I went there also. He was then lying by
the side of the wall. He had just got over. I found
him with a wound in his side, and Mr Fuller had
his hand on the wound trying to stop the blood. I
heard the deceased groan once er twice, but cannot
say whether he was actually sensible or not. I
stayed with him till he died, which was about a
quarter of an hour after the gun was discharged.
He was not removed from the spot bef6re he died.
The gun was a Lancaster breeoh-loader, without a
safety-guard ; but I should think the gun was quite
safe, and in the same state as gentlemen's guns
usually are,
Mr Snow, surgeon, of Box, was called in to the
deceased. Found him dead on his arrival. There
was a wound on the left side, such as would be made
by a cartridge if the muzzle of the gun was close to
the body. There was no other wound. It led in a
direction upwards and towards the spine, passing
through the lungs and dividing all the large blood
vessels near the heart, but not touching the heart
itself. Such a wound would cauie death. 1
The Coroner havieg briefly addressed the jury
on their melancholy duty, and painted out to them
what he considered was the verdict they should
return,
The jury unanimously recorded their verdict that
" The deceased died from the accidental discharge
of his own gun, after living a quarter of an hour."
They also appended an expression of sympathy for
the family of the deceased in their bereavement,
which was a loss both to his family and to the
whole country.

Tho following is a report of the proceedings of
the British Association yesterday on the assembling
of Section E

It:was understood that in this section a discussion

Sept. 16.
Warocmo
commanding
esa
unrt
de.
gi
evne
Her
ea arl
(From the London Gazette of 12st Evening,)
ateosx.o r. fores. ,B
Wan-Omee, Se
ds
rsTph:t cuSecretaryits
m oef er
onSnctl,
following are copies :
" Head-quarters, Auckland, July 7.
My Lord,—I informed your Lordship in my last
despatch that I had made arrangement for removing
the troops not required for the defence of Tauranga
to Auckland, and accordingly on the 9th ult. Her
Majesty's ship Eak and the steamer Aiexandra pros
ceeded to Tauranga for that purpose.
Before their arrival, however, intelligence had
been received at Tauranga that the rebels were as-
sembling in force in that neighbourhood, with the
avowed intention of attacking our position, where-
upon Colonel Greer, 68th Regiment, whom I had
left in command, suspended the embarkation of the
troops, and, in my absence on the Waikato frontier,
reported the state of ttflairs to the Governor of New
Zealand, who immediately reinforced him with 280
Waikato Militia. After the arrival of this rein-
forcement, th 3 forca at Colonel Greer's disposal
amounted to 1,500 men.
The district occupied by us at Tauranga is a
peninsula about three and a-half miles long, con-
nected with the main land by a very narrow neck,
on which was situated the Gate Pah, abandoned by
the rebels on the 30th of April, and converted by
my order into a strong redoubt. This work and
another small redoubt, commanding the only ford
by which the rebels could cross over from the main
land to the peninsula, rendered our position so
secure that when Colonel Greer's report reached me
I felt sure the rebels would not venture to attack it.
Considering it, however, not unlikely that they
might attempt to construct a pah somewhere in the
vicinity of our position, I instructed Col. Greer to
watch their movements closely, to patrol frequently,
and, if they made the attempt, to attack them before
they had time to establish themselves.
In patrolling the country beyond the Gate Pab,
onthe 21st of June, Col. Greer came suddenly upon '
a large body of natives who had just begun to in-
trench themselves. He at once attacked them and
defeated them with great loss.
Two reports from Colonel Greer, containing the
details of the action 'ought on that occasion, are
herewith enclosed. The conduct of all the officers
and men engaged was admirable, and I beg to draw
your Lordship's attention to the brilliant charge
with the bayonet made by the 43d and 68th Light
Infantry, and to the great bravery displayed by
those two distinguished regiments in the hand-to-
hand fight with the rebels at the rifle pits.
I cannot praise too highly the zeal and energy
with which Colonel Greer carried out his instruc-
tions, and his able conduct, not only on the day of
the engagement, but during the whole periud he has
been in command at Tauranga. I bag to recommend
to your favourable notice his meritorious services,
as well as those of all the officers and men mentioned
by him as having particularly distinguished them-
selves in the action.-4 have, Sca.,
D. A. CAMERON, Lieut.-General.
The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War.

commanding
per mar.
rmnsielves about
No. 86. Camp, To Papa, Tanranga, an 21.
Sir,--I have the honour to report, for the infer.
hada made a
aukleakr
tmhaattioitimoafrchtebde
out
Lieutenantw-Gitehnaerfatohlrecye,
large force
gin,* this morning at 8 a.m. I. foutondp
of Maories (about 6ppOtOut)stlie.onkftlartehan?licuhinsioauga;
lthfoe
of the 68th in their
across the
the commencement of a formidable
fsroionuagrdl,meiinllienasepbooefysirotiifinocien exactly similar
pah. Having
driven in some skirmishers
.they had
thrown out, I
front and on the flanks as far as practicable, and
kept up a sharp fire for about two hours, while I
sent back for reinforeeman. ts, as per margin.-j- As
extended the 43d and a portion
were sufficiently near
soon as they to support I
sounded the advance, when the 43d, 68th, and Ist
Waikato Militia charged and carried the rifle pits
in the most dashing manner, tinder a tremendous
fire, but which was for the most part too high.
For a few minutes the Maories
routed. fought desperately,
and then were utterly Sixty..eight were
killed in the rifle pits.
The position was very favourable for their retreat,
otherwise few could have escaped. The defence
force pursued them several miles, but could not get
well at them, owing to the deep ravines with which
the country is everywhere intersected.
The infantry pursued as long as they could keep
the Maories in sight; all did their duty gallantly.
Tho 43d were under the command of Major Synge,
whose horse was shot, the 68th tinder Major Shut-
tlewoith, the Ist Waikato Militia under Captain
Moore, and they each led their men well.
It is impossible for me, in this hurried repe!t, to
do justice; I will therefore have the pleasure in a
supplemental report to bring those to your notice
who more particularly dP3tinguillaed themselves.
I marched the men back to camp this evening.
One hundred and seven Maories were found and
carried up the rifle pits, and we have brought in 27
' wounded, all severely, and 10 prisoners.
Many more must have been killed in the ravines,
F whom we did not find.

* Three field officers, 9 captains, 14 subalterns, '24 ser-
geants, 13 buglers, and 531 rank and file.
t One gun, 220 men,