A VIOLENT FRACAS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1924, Page 3

A VIOLENT FRACAS

FUKTHFR PARTICULARS. [UY TEI.EOItAPH —I* Kit J’ltEilS ASSOCIATION WJIANGAISFf, Nov. 13. Details of a violent fracas in Motlltau district vary in several respects from those first reported yesterday. The police and medical mail, returned lata last night sifter a strenuous journey involving a 12-mile ride from .Mutalavi station to the scene of the combat, which was situated in a dense' hush. The men concerned are Portuguese*. John Orapaiii and Desidero Diaz, formerly sailors on the vessel Cecilia Sudden, burned near the (ireat Harrier sdiout three years arm. They took up their resilience later with the Maoris, Diaz i.inirviitg a Maori woman. Diaz stated to the police that (Irapani returned to the whare m an intexic.i e l statu on Tuesday ngilit, seized an axe an I threatened to kill Diaz a.id *ns wife, (irapani struck a ferocious blow at Diaz, clip-pine; olf pari of one car.

and Lillie* ing minor flesh wounds on l,lie chest. Diaz pi applet! with Ins assailant. wresting the axe from him Ife then picked up a heavy rata stick and struck (irapani four times on the head frac turii.g 'ins slud! nr I rendering him uiiconscio-is. Diaz tnen pimcctoed to tie up Orapani, and left him lying outside. During the night (!rt paid f’-eed himself from nis bauds and eiawled back into the whare and got on to the hunk where he was again hound hy Maorii.

■ I'll" police parte yesterday afternoon expo: icnci.d considerable difficulty in conveyin'' the wounded man or horselinck over fl.o relish hush track to where inotor cars were waiting. the journey then being completed to \\ liangnrei hospital, wheve Grannie lies in a very precarious condition, and is cxpoeted to snccii.nli to his terrible injuries. Diaz was not. plac' d under :ir rest, apparently having act'd in selfdel e m i .