TAIHAPE NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9377, 22 February 1909, Page 4

TAIHAPE NOTES.

FATAL ACCIDENT,

From Our Own Correspondent.

On Saturday night about 8 p.m. news was brought to Taihape that an accident had occurred near the junction of Moawhango and Papaka roads. Constable P.eattie and a medical man went out and found a Maori named Riui Henri Kupa lying dead.

Aa inquest was held on Sunday before Mr Aldridge, coroner, and the evidence showed that some Maoris had been drinking freely all day in Taihape and that deceased and a companion had ridden off rapidly, although under the influence of drink. Rini was subsequently found with his neck broken. Evidence showed that the hotels had refused to supply both deceased and his companion with mere liquor early in the evening. The stable-keeper said that Rini was under the influence of drink, but able to take care of himself. Mr H. D. Bennett said that deceased was in his shop between 6 and 6.30, and though drunk was capable of looking after himself. After heating all the evidence, which in most part was interpreted by Mr H. D, Bennett, a licensed interpreter, the Coroner gave a verdict that the deceased was accidentally killed by a fall from his horse.”

The unfortunate young fellow was 22 years of age, and had been married about two years, and belonged to a tribe or Kapu that have suffered severely by death during the present month. First an adopted son of Wariwera, junior, then Wariwera himself, who at the moment awaits burial at Opaia, and later Wereta, who on the way to Tokaanu, died suddenly, and is also awaiting burial, so that there are.four all in the same family who have died during the last fortnight, three of whom are still unbnried. While on the subject of death amongst the natives I do certainly think that the powers that be should exercise more care for the welfare of our Maori brothers and sisters and insist on much improved sanitary arrangements in their pahs and Hapuc. In two cases two deaths were attributable to typhoid fever, and the prolonging of the funeral arrangements of their departed friends might, with advantage to themselves, be greatly curtailed. The keeping of dead bodies at" this time of year at least cannot hut seriously affect the health of the native. In one case that I saw in the early«part of the month, lit was simply a disgrace to a civilised people that such things should be allowed to continue. In this case the local police interfered and insisted that the body should be at ouoo buried, which was done without further 'ado, without (as was intended) carting the body by stages to Tanpo.