DEATH OF A MAORI CHILD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 58

DEATH OF A MAORI CHILD.

INQUIRY TO BE MADE. (Fxou Oub Oww Cobbespondent.) AUCKLAND, August 4. Some time ago a case in which the validity of a Maori marriage was in question was heard at the Police Court by Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M. One Ngapipi was charged with wife deeertdon. It was alleged that he was married according to Native custom, which principally consisted in getting the consent of the rela-. tives of the parties, and that the marriage was binding. The defence was that Ngapipi was not married even according to Maori custom. .-•«,. The case was mentioned in the Police Court yesterday, when Mr Kettle- satd he had considered the question involved, and it seemed to him that the first consideration was whether these Maori marriages could be enforced, and the second whether this particular marriage was a valid one according to Maori ceremony. He would give judgment later. The necessity for giving judgment was, however, obviated by a statement being made in court that the wife had only been concerned to. secure maintenance for the child of the alliance, and the child had died since the case was heard. Questions by the magistrate elicited the fact that the child had been taken away when it became ill to be treated by, a Maori prophet. The magistrate directed supinspector Hendry to inquire into the circumstances of the child's death.

Burglars who ransacked the house of tha Vicar of Christ Church, Fulham, lately, carried off, among other things, an insurance policy against burglary..