MAORI WOMAN’S DEATH

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3585, 11 January 1927, Page 2

MAORI WOMAN’S DEATH

COLLAPSES WHILE EEL SPEARING. The death occurred under tragic circumstances yesterday of Mrs. Pikiliuia Tainati, an elderly woman, of Rangiotu. About 10 a.m., accompanied by her small grandson, Jack- Tainati, a school boy, aged 10 years, she

k-ft her home for the purpose of spearing eels in a creek on Mr Wil ton’s property. As they were following the creek the old lady complained of not feeling well and frequently put her hand up to her throat. Her grandson asked her to return home but she refused. She commenced spearing l and then sat down on the bank, put her hands to her throat hut did not say anything 1 , and suddenly pitched forward and fell faee-dftwn in the 'creek, which at this spot, was not two feet wide and only six inches deep. The hoy, becoming 1 alarmed, called out to his grandmother and on receivingl no answer, endeavoured to lilt deceased’s head out of the \fat-

or, but was nimble to keep it so supported and so ran home to his mother, a distanee of about a mile, and apprised her of ihe tragedy. The boy’s mother, Mrs Te*Rangi, lost no time in arriving at the scene of the tragedy and seeing Mr Bond, a settler, on the way, obtained his assistance and together they lifted the body out of the drain and tried artilioial respiration for some time, but without result. Mr Bond then comnninieated with Constable Rvan, of Foxton, who, after visiting the s'cene of the tragedy, ordered the removal of the body to deceased’s house. The circumstances are particularly sad. The old lady, who is held in high esteem, by both pakehas and Maoris in the district, had not been well for some time and had very often complained of pains in Ihe throat. Yesterday morning, when she woke up she felt better than she had for some time past and decided to endeavour to secure some eels for which she had had a crnv ing for a long time. The weather was very sultry, particularly so in the lied of Ihe practically dried lip 'creek, where she had the seizure and fell into the drain. Only her face was under water and the greater part of her body was lying on the bank. Had her grandson not accompanied her it; is doubtful if her body would have been discovered! for some time as it is very seldom that Mi Wilton visits that part of the farm and the creek was seldom frequented by the Maoris for fishing. Deceased leaves one son (a son-in-law of Ratana) and one daughter, who resides at Rangiotu. An inquest was held at Rangiotu this morning, before Mr Alt’. Fraser, Coroner, when evidence similar to above was given, and a verdict returned “that deceased met her death by drowning accidentally and not otherwise.” No post mortem was held.