DEATH OF MAORI

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 5

DEATH OF MAORI

CORONER'S CRITICISM OF BROTHER MAN LEFT IN OPEN ALL NIGHT (rncsa association telegram.) ROTORUA, March 1. "It is difficult to understand the conduct of the brother of Tetua, when he saw him lying on the ground. He just gave him a cursory glance and was apparently unconcerned, leaving him and proceeding to the dance. The action seems reprehensible, because, although he states that his brother told him he wanted to sleep, the fact remains that he was lying on the ground with an injured spine and that this fact must have been apparent, i "In the circumstances the brother should have taken some steps to have him removed and medically treated. Instead of doing that, he left him on the roadside until found there by another person in the early hours of the following morning. This conduct warrants the strongest censure, and it is to be hoped that if circumstances of a similar nature occur in future this man will act in a more humane and creditable manner." These remarks were made by the coroner (Mr W. L. Richards) at an inquest to-day, when returning a verdict of accidental death upon Keremata Tetua, a Maori bush worker, of Oruanui, near Taupo, who died in the Rolorua Hospital on February 14, after an accident on February 2. The evidence showed that Tetua and his brother intended to attend a dance and were riding along a bush track at night when Keremata, who was in front, was thrown from his horse and lractured his spine. The brother stated that Keremata said he merely wanted to sleep, so he went on to the dance and left him by the roadside. Keremata was still there next morning, when he was removed to hospital, where he died some days later.