A BARBAROUS NATIVE CUSTOM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2324, 9 January 1890, Page 2

A BARBAROUS NATIVE CUSTOM

One of the barbarous customs of the Maoris of the old time has been illustrated by a case in Hawke's Bay, the fac s of which were brought out by an inquest into the cause of the death of an old Maori woman at Takapau. The evidence showed that deceased ''was very old, her age was not given in years, but' several of the Native witnesses said she "had had her days" She had been ill unable to walk for sometime. One of her nephews, a well-to* do Native, a chief amonehis people, stated she owned roach land. He had placed her in a good house when she fell i'l, and ordered her to be well fed and looked after, but got bo doctor. The old woman bad no children of her own A niece by marriage, -a widow named Mar'a* Inia,' t; en took charge of her, and as the first witness stated, for the purpose of inducing the old woman to make a will m her favour, shifted her from the taut iate i

poor outhouse, and according to some European witnesses proceeded to starve the aged chieftainess it, to compliance. The na*iv^ witnesses, however, declared that she had plenty of food. Her nephew was displeased at Maria's action, and took the old woman back to the house. He had to leave home on business, and directly he had gone Maria again removed the poor creature to the outhouse, where she was found, lying under a leaky roof upon some decayed hay, covered frith a single old blanket, and, as one white woman who fed ber stated, ravenously hungry, a short time before sbe died. Maria was told to attend the inquest, but found some excuse for a journey instead. The verdict was " That the Cause «f Oriwia's death was from natural causes, rccelerated by exposure and want of cart." A number of Natives were present all through the inquiry, and took considerable interest in it. Alter the jury had giyen their verdict, the corner, Mr.Johnson' addressed the Maoris, saying he quite concured with it. There had been great neglect to the deceased beyond a doubt. It might .be the Maori custom to treat their old people in this dreadful manner, but it wassgainstthelaw, which was for the Maori as well as the Pakeha, and would have to be obeyed. It was his duty under the circumstances to forward a copy of the evidence to the R,M., with a view to a further magisterial investigation.