FOUND DROWNED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 3

FOUND DROWNED

INQUEST ON MAORI BOY. BY Telegraph.—press Association. Gisborne, February 10 At an inquest held at Tokomaru Bay yesterday touching the death of a Maori boy, I-leki Tapu, aged about 16, whose body was found floating in the Te Puia Lake on February 8, and who had been missing Ironi his home since Sunday, evidence of an unusual character was given. George Dewes, junior, stated that about noon on Sunday he met a Maori bov named Tame l’okai, who produced a bottle of whisky about three parts full. Together they consumed the contents anil the bottle was thrown into the lake. Witness walked round the back of tile lake, where he met deceased, who appeared to be under the influence of liquor, and was somewhat incoherentin his speech. Dewes declared that lie did not see anyone supply liquor to deceased, and left him there. Later, he and l’okai met again, and went to hospital, where, after talking for some time, they parted and went home. Pokai telephoned him later in the evening and inquired after the deceased, and witness went out and searched in vain. Tame l’okai, a Maori youth, said that he found a full bottle of whisky under the seat of a car which he drove for his employer. He took the bottle and went down to the lake, where he met deceased. At a point near the quarry he had three drinks, and deceased had two. Then witness left his companion. Witness met Dewes, and together they finished the bottle. In the meanwhile deceased had gone to lie down in the scrub, whre he’was later seen by Dewes. AVhen deceased could not be found later witness thought that he would be all right, thinking that he had stayed with friends. The jury returned a verdict that the lad was drowned on February 5, but that there was not sufficient evidence as to how he got into the water.