DEATH OF MAORI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1940, Page 10

DEATH OF MAORI.

"A PURE ACCIDENT." FINDING AT INQUEST. HAMILTON, Wednesday. A death which occurred on August IB last, ae the reeult of an accident on March p, 1939, formed the subject of an inquest heard before Mr. F. W. Platte, coroner, in Hamilton to-day. The deceased was Peter Davis, aged 16, a Maori farmhand, of Walton, who was struck by a motor car on the-main road near Waharoa! and suffered a fractured spine. ... Evidence was given by James Anderson, farmer, Otahuhu, that on Sunday March 5, 1939, he was driving near Waharoa when he saw two youths on cycles ahead of him. Aβ he was in (he act of passing; one of the cycles skidded and. the.rider, Davis, was thrown in front of the car. Witness applied the.brakes, but wae unable to.avoid striking the cyclist, who- was injured. Constable J. D. Hedley produced a statement signed by deceased, who eaid that hie cycle skidded in front of an overtaking car. He wae rendered unconscious and did not remember bein<» struck by the car. °

Dr. C. N. D'Arcy gave evidence that deceased suffered a fractured spine and he was paralysed. Hie condition was hopeless.

The coronef eaid death was the result of a pure accident, and he gave his verdict accordingly.