FATAL BRAKE FAILURE

Evening Star, Issue 20062, 31 December 1928, Page 4

FATAL BRAKE FAILURE

TWO MAORIS KILLED [Plr United Press Association.] CJSJiOUNJi, J)ecemb..r .jO. A serious motor accident occurred on Saturday morning on tho Tarewa Hill on the .main Gisborne-Wairoa road, as a result of which two Maoris, Tula Tahawhera, aged fifty years, married, and Wiki Mirniapopo, ' fiftvtwo years, were killed, and three ware injured. Ngairo Anilmta received head injuries; Te Rangi Te Mete, leg aim internal injuries; and Te Whata Witeria, head injuries. The party comprised seven Maori men. All came from Whakat.ine in a one-ton lorry, and were on their nay to a meeting of' the Ringatu Clin ch at Nuhaka .near Wairoa, The party spent last night at Te Karaua, and «.«f. out early this morning on tin second portion o fthe journey. On going down the T.mv.t [Jill, thirty-seven miles south of Gisborne, the brakes gave way. The driver, Aniata Rctene, told the passengers to jump, but only one did si W dsi Maniapopo, who landed nr, Ins head on the bitumen and was killed. The lorry continued on its course, and onreaching a hairpin bend overturned twice, landing again on its wheels near the bank, but facing the. opposite way. Tula Tahawhera was killed by the weight of the lorry. The police and a doctor worn sent from Gisborne, and the injured were removed to the Cook Hospital, The injuries are reported to be not serious.