TRAGEDY IN NATIVE SETTLEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3009, 11 March 1926, Page 2

TRAGEDY IN NATIVE SETTLEMENT.

WOMAN KILLED, HUSBAND INJURED.

Hamilton, March 9. A shocking tragedy occurred at To Kowlnti settlement, about eight miles from Hamilton, this afternoon. A Maori women, Ngapeti Noti Rawiri, was killed, and her husband Peter Rawiri, is in hospital, not expected to live. Deceased, her husband, brother Koti, and Eliau, another native, stayed the previous night at Ngaruawaiiia pah, leaving this morning for Tc Kowliai, Koti leaving the party when about a mile from its destination.

Arrived at his whare, Peter Rawiri went outside and called his wife. Shortly afterwards Eliau, who remained in the whare, heard an explosion, followed by footsteps approaching and receding from the whare, Going outside, he saw Peter Rawiri falling near a body on the ground. Investigation showed the woman’s body badly shattered by the explosion. The man’s left hand was blown off at the wrist, also his throat was fearfully gashed by a razor, which was found lying behind his head.

A neighbour was communicated with ami summoned the police, who brought the body into Hamilton and conveyed the man to hospital, where his condition is considered hopeless. The cause of the tragedy is a mystery, as the party all were friendly and there had been no quarrelling. No evidence was found of liquor. The man had been working in an other district, and only returned home the previous day. Deceased leaves two or three children.