FATALITY AT TE WHAITI

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 51, 26 February 1943, Page 5

FATALITY AT TE WHAITI

ELDERLY MAORI'S DEATH

DEMI! STALKING ACCIDENT

How an elderly Maori chief of the Papue.ru district, Wiremu Wiriliana, aged about 70 years, was. discovered fatally injured last. Sunday while on a deer-stalking expedition, was related to the District Coroner, Mr W. L. Richards, at an inquest held at Papucru this Aveek.

Constable L. Bidois, of Te Whaiti, after making iiwestigation, came to the conclusion that deceased had cither been injured by a deer Avhicli, frightened, by dogs pursuing it, had collided with' tlic Maori on a narrow track or that, deceased had fallen and struck his head on the limb of an adjacent tree. Evidence was tendered 'by Rangi Ahua Mineliera, Avho helped to recover the body, and his two sons aged 10 3'ears and eight years respectiA'ely, avlio had accompanied Wirihana on the deer-stalking expedition. i Dogs Give First. Alarm The Maori lads told how, Avit.li deceased, they had gone out hunting, on horseback and accompanied by fiA r e dogs. About three miles: from Papueru the party had gone intoi the bush* and pt the site of an old mill the dogs had barked furiously. Deceased had told; the boys to- remain on horseback while he proceeded on foot along a logging skid-Ayay (like a deep drain) to lind out Avhat the dogs had discovered. After a period, when Wirihana had failed to return, the lads "had investigated and had found deceased lying in the track. Blood Avas flowing from his; ear and nose, and lie appeared to be dead. Rifle not Discharged! The boys had rushed back to Papucru for help and their father and others, with horse and dray, had proceeded to the sccne. Deceased, who had a deep cut on the back of his left ear and running around the base of the skull, Avas found to< be dead on arirval. His rifle Avas located a distance up the track, and had not been discharged. There Avere tAvo bullets in, the magazine, but none in the breech. The deer, Avhicli Avas uninjured, but. had apparently died of fright after being chased by the dogs, Avas in. the bush adjacent. Medical eA'idcnce Avas given by Dr. R. Dorset, of Rotorua, who stated that deceased had died of, laceration to the brain arising from a fracture of.the skull causing seA T ere haemorrhage. Mr Richards returned a verdict in accordance Avith the medical caudence.