JAN. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 35

plaint in the case. (See section 195, “Justices of the
Peace Act, 1882.”)

CORONERS' INQUESTS: CASES OF VIOLENT OR SUDDEN DEATH.

58. When the body of any deceased person is found
    by the police, or reported to them as having been found,
    it should, where there is no morgue, be removed to the
    nearest publichouse in the neighbourhood; but where
    there are two or more publichouses near to each other
    they should be used alternately.

59. A report stating, if possible, the names of the
    deceased and the manner of the death should be made
    immediately to the Coroner, if resident within twenty
    miles (see section 11, “Coroners Act, 1867”), or, if not,
    to the nearest Magistrate, in all cases of violent death,
    casualties by which death ensues, sudden deaths, persons
    found dead, persons committing suicide, prisoners dying
    in any of Her Majesty's gaols or other places of confine-
    ment, and in all cases where death is suspected to have
    occurred from foul play; and such a report, together
    with the result of the Coroner's inquest or magisterial
    inquiry, should be made to the Commissioner.

60. The appearance of such body, the position in
    which it was found, and the probable length of time
    dead, should be noted; and it should then be carefully
    searched, and anything found thereon should be kept in
    the custody of the police and produced at the inquest.

61. Whenever any such body is found, or where cir-
    cumstances come to the knowledge of the police which
    render it expedient that an inquest should be held, the
    matter should be immediately reported to the Coroner or
    Magistrate.

62. If the police are unable to secure the attendance
    of a Coroner, they should forthwith report the matter to
    the nearest Magistrate, or take other necessary steps, so
    that an inquiry may be held as soon as possible.

63. A constable should remain in charge of the body
    until an inquest or inquiry has been held thereon.

64. The constable should take care that the jury
    are not of kin to the deceased, or interested for any person
    charged with or suspected of any crime in connection
    with the death of the deceased, or to be called as a
    witness.

65. Summonses should be personally served upon the
    witnesses, or persons who may have found the body, or
    know any circumstances connected with the death of the
    deceased, and also upon the medical man who first saw
    the body, should the Coroner desire his attendance.

66. The constable should produce at the inquest any
    papers or other property found on searching the body of
    the deceased, and any weapon or instrument found that
    might be supposed to have been the means of death, such
    as a knife, razor, pistol, or any bottle, or paper, &c., con-
    taining poison.

67. When the body is viewed, the constable must
    attend and see that all the jurors are there. The con-
    stable has charge of the jury, and should see that all of
    them accompany him to view the body; and when the
    jury retire to consider their verdict, he must keep the
    door, and see that no one interferes with them.

68. If the wound consists of a cut, the length,
    breadth, and depth should be ascertained as far as pos-
    sible, together with its exact position and appearances.
    If firearms appear to have been the cause of the death,
    it is desirable to find the bullet or any other matter which
    may have entered the body; but a medical man should
    generally make any examination of the body that may
    be necessary for the purpose, and in all cases, before the
    body or any weapon or other article which could in any
    way be connected with the case is moved, or the position
    of the body altered, care should be taken that every par-
    ticular should be noted in writing.

69. Should there be wounds or other marks of vio-
    lence on the body, it is of importance to ascertain and get
    possession of the instrument (if any) with which such
    wounds or marks have been inflicted.

70. The police should not take upon themselves to
    bury the body without an order from the Coroner or a
    Magistrate, unless it is impracticable to obtain one.

71. Upon inquiries into deaths caused by violence,
    the police officer in charge of the station at the time
    must consider himself as the person whose special duty
    it is to get up the case for the Coroner or Magistrate.

72. Reports in the proper form are to be made
    respecting all inquests. If the deceased died intestate
    and possessed of property, full particulars respecting the
    same must be promptly transmitted to the Agent for the
    Public Trustee, together with affidavit of death and
    intestacy in the prescribed form; the cost of funeral
    expenses will form the first charge upon the deceased's
    property. When the name of the deceased is not known
    an accurate description of the body should be furnished.

FINDING OF NEW-BORN CHILD OR DEAD BODY.

73. In case any dead body shall be found exposed,
    a constable of the district shall forthwith inform the
    Registrar thereof, and of the place where such dead body
    was found; and when an inquest shall be held on any
    dead body, the Coroner or Justice of the Peace holding
    the same shall, within fourteen days after the holding of
    such inquest, notify to the Registrar of the district the
    verdict of the jury, with all other particulars required to
    be registered concerning the death, and such Registrar
    shall make the entry in his Register-book accordingly,
    and the same shall be signed by the Coroner or Justice of
    the Peace by whom the information has been given.
    (Section 25, “Registration of Births and Deaths Act,
    1875.”)

74. It shall be the duty of all police constables to
    inquire for every death within their respective districts
    or localities, and to report thereon to the principal police
    officer of the district, who is hereby required to give
    notice thereof to the Registrar of the district within
    which such death occurred, and also respecting some
    person present at the death, or in attendance during the
    last illness of such deceased person, or respecting the
    occupier of the house in which such deceased person
    died, as the case may require.

75. Any police constable who shall have been in-
    formed of any death, and who shall neglect forthwith to
    report the same, and any principal officer of police
    receiving such report who shall neglect to send notice
    thereof within seven days, by writing, sent through the
    post or otherwise, to the Registrar aforesaid shall be
    liable to a fine not exceeding forty shillings.

For the purposes of this and the last-preceding sec-
tion the expression “principal officer of police” shall
mean the chief or only officer of police in the locality
where such death has happened or is believed to have
happened. (Sections 26 and 27, “Registration of Births
and Deaths Act, 1875.”)

INQUESTS CONCERNING FIRES.

76. In cases of fire the police shall take careful
    notice of the appearance of the premises that have been
    burnt, both inside and out, and also of any property
    (whether it be fixtures, or loose boxes, cases, &c.) on such
    premises, and any matters which may tend to throw light
    upon the cause of the fire, and shall forthwith make a
    note in writing of all such circumstances, and shall take
    possession of such premises and such property, in order
    that they may be viewed by or produced to the jury and
    Coroner at the inquest.

77. In cases of fire, the reports to the Inspector
    should contain full particulars of the same, a description
    of the property destroyed, the estimated value, whether
    insured or not, and if insured, the amount, the office, and
    the date of the insurance; also the character and position,
    &c., of the owner, whether a reward is offered, and
    whether any suspicion attaches to any person as an
    incendiary.

78. The police will discharge the same duties at in-
    quests concerning fires under “The Coroner's Act, 1867,”
    as at inquests in cases of deaths, so far as the cases
    permit.

By Authority: GEORGE DIDSURY, Government Printer, Wellington.