MAORI CHILD’S DEATH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2265, 10 August 1908, Page 2

MAORI CHILD’S DEATH.

VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. RESULT OF NATIVE SUPERSTITION. [Press Association.] WHANG ARE I. August 8 The inquest on the Maori child Makarini revealed some very shocking incidents. It was shown that three generations of one Maori family had been herded indiscriminately together in one bed-room, and deeds of indescribable character were committed. The grandfather lloliepa held one child on the fire, causing frightful injuries. This child is now in the hospital with some hope of recovery, and the grandfather is in the Avondale Asylum. The second child was placed three times on tho fife by its mother, until practically done to death at the command of the grandfather and husband. The bady, which was thrown outside and afterwards buried by two men, was partially eaten by dogs. Tho Coroner, addressing the jury, returned a. verdict of wilful murder against the grandfather and parents, and added that other adults who were present were deserving of punishment for not trying to prevent the crime. The general impression is the outrage was the outcome of tohungaism, since it was stated by a witness that tho deeds were done to drive Satan out of the children.

AUCKLAND, August 9.. Nineteen warships, sixteen American and three British, arcsnugly anchored in Wniteinata harbor, and although tho day is Sunday, all Auckland is completely absorbed in the fleet and its doings. Out of respect to t!jc associations of the Sabbath, no formal ceremonies have -taken place to-dav. but the public have spoilt every daylight gazing upon the UNIQUE AGGREGATION OF WAESHIPS

which occupy tho harbor. I should say that fully 50,000 people must have witnessed tho arrival of the United States fleet. All day long tho hills and wharves have been crowded, and Queen Street is at the present time a seething mass of humanity. The decorations are a veritable triumph, and are bound to present a- gorgeous scene when lit up by electricity. In the meantimo it is sufficient to add ib,at Fleet Week has been entered uph in an entirely auspicious manner.

ON BOARD THE WIMMERA.

AS SEEN BY GISBORNEITES. A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE. The passengers on the Wimmera bad the best sight of all, for they had the unique opportunity of watching the fleet steam into Auckland harbor, and, later, of passing along the line of battleships as they lay anchored. Just before 8 o’clock, whilo most of the passengers were looking away to the north-east vainly straining their eyes to catch a glimpse in tho open sea of the great white armada that should, at this time, have been near, the harbor, someone noticed, straight ahead of the 'Wimmera, what looked like a grey cliff resembling for all the world a distant view of the clean-cut cliffs that terminate the Gisborne beach. A closer inspection with field glasses revealed distinct cleavages in the grey mass, and then, in a moment, we realised that the fleet was ahead of time and was actually steaming into Auc'ldand harbor.

THE EFFECT WAS MAGICAL. In a twinkling the -whole of the passengers had rushed from the sides of the boat to tho forecastle in order to gain an uninterrupted view. There were many doubters. It did not seem possible that that little blotch of grey, seeming part of the headland, could be the great American navy of which so much talk had been made. All uncertainty, however, was soon settled. As the Wimmera forged ahead with all steam up, we could soon make out with the naked eye tho individual ships as they passed.: right across our track, though Still several miles distant. The grey which had at first so much resembled a cliff had now given wav to a whitish shade, and the divisions between the units of the fleet were becoming more distinct, whilst a dim haze of smoke was seen, above the horizon. There was not much to look at in this distant, apparently inert, mass, but the definite knowledge that the white armada had actually arrived and was in veritable being inside a New Zealand harbor sent a thrill through the most cokLblooded, and many a weird speculation of “what migh bo” flashed instinctively through the minds of the spectators. Thirteen ships could be made out at this time, from which it was evident that only throe had already passed Rangitoto. Once the excitement of the first few minutes was over, the pangs of hunger, which had been stimulated by early rising and sea air, claimed, attention, and os tho bugle had just sounded for breakfast, there was a scamper downstairs for the tables. Truth to tell,- the odorous flavors of fried schnapper and ham and eggs proved irresistible, and the great naval spectacle had temporarily to take second place. To most, however, the meal was light and ill-digested, for tliero was electricity in the air, and we quickly resumed the

FEAST OF SIGHT-SEEING. ' Half-an-hour after tho first glimpse had been obtained, most of the warships had gone so far up the harbor as to bo out of view, and the “knowall” who had so confidently bidden us before to look to tho open sea for the approaching fleet now informed us that the Wimmera would have to stop and wait outside the harbor until II o’clock. However, the pessimists were again confounded, for after slackening speed we took a straight course for the wharves, passing on our way directly alongside the whole of Uncle Sam’s warships And -what a wonderful sight met our gaze as we headed straight for the North Heads and rounded the ltangitoto beacon. Surely the Auckland harbor has never looked better than on the day when she opened her capacious arms to receive the great United States fleet. The Americans had been assured that thbir warships could easily be accommodated, and such indeed was tho ease. Even, .the whole sixteen of them, as well as tho Aus-. tralasian warships, did not begin to crowd the great area of still water, and, indeed, they served to form a MAGNIFICENT CENTREPIECE, around which hundreds of crafts of various shapes and sizes cruised at their own sweet will. Everything conspired to assist in making the occasion memorable. Though just a trifle duP, the weather was beautiful, and there was scarcely enough breeze to lift tho flags which hung in hundreds from the vessels and wharves. As wo passed the rearmost warship, the Vermont, we met tho Government steamer. tile Tutanekai. laden with a heavy cargo of gaily-attired officials and legislators. A ext came the Northern Steamship Company’s Clansman, with" scarcely standing room for another pair ol feet. The many ferry steamers that usually run to North Shore and Birkenhead seemed to bo weight, ed almost under the water with their human cargo. There was scarcely enough wind to suit the yachts, but their absence was compensated for by scores of motor launches of various sizes, which seemed to dart from one point to another with the celerity and ease of a fan tail flitting from branch to branch of a willow tree. The water was simply alive with vessels of one kind and another, whilst the hills which lend such a varied and charming background to Auckland harbor, and the wharves also, were lined with thousands upon thousands of siglitseers.

Meanwhile the sixteen battleships that aroused all this interest lav calmly at anchor. We passed close enough to some to have recognised the features of the American Jack Tars on board liad we known them. Painted almost pure white, but with turrets, funnels, and other, top portions a light grey, the warships, could lav no claim to be designated beautiful. However, it’s an old saying that “handsome is as handsome does, and they certainly seemed to be wellequipped for business, Eaoli one fairly

BRISTLED WITH GUNS. Guns pointed from the sides, ends, and also from the turrets of these lighting monsters. One lady passenger gave several a temporary fright liy screaming, “Look, they’re going to fire.” Sure enough, an American was seen manipulating something at the muzzle of a gun that pointed straight at the Wimmera, but .fears were soon allaved when it was-seen that he was merely putting on extra polish out of respect for the occasion. After passing a dozen, of these fearsome engines of war, it was a welcome sight to note the ships of the Australasian squadron anchored hut a short distance from the wharves. Experts will probably tell us that the Ainencan warships are superior, but, as laymen, we patriotically believe that the solid-looking Powerful, with no turrets or top pieces or frills or any kind, would hold her own with the best of them if it came to solid business. Painted a horrid sombre grey, she seemed to lay there in sullen contemplation of the gaily-attired foreigners who had found their way into a British harbour, and it seemed ill keeping with-the uncompromising appearance of the British flagsliip than lier skipper refused to change Ins customary anchorage in order to make room for some of Uncle Sam’s fleet. Once past the long line of battleships, wo were at liberty to admire the imposing appearance that Auckland city makes from the water-front, and being promptly put ashore, were soon struggling units in the living mass that rushed up and down the main streets of the town.