YOUNG COUPLE SHOT IN OPOTIKI DISTRICT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 232, 23 May 1932, Page 5

YOUNG COUPLE SHOT IN OPOTIKI DISTRICT

Our Own Correspondent) .

TRAGIC LOVE PACT? BOTH APPARENTLY TAKE OWN LIVES ON SAME DAY YOUNG MAORIS' RASH DEED 1 4

(From

OPOTIKI, Sunday. What appears to have been a tragic love pact resulted in the deaths, apparently by suicide, of l a young Mauri couple in this I district yesterday. Shortly after 11 o'clock yesterday morning a young Maori woman, named Olive Mill, aged about 21 years, was found dead at Kutarere, 15 miles from Opotiki. She had. been shot in the chest with a sin'gle barrelled shotgun, which was found beside the body. It -is understood that deceased left a note, which is in the hands of the police. A string had been tied to the trigger of the gun, and the other end fastened to her bedstead, the muzzle apparently having been held against ^ her breast, which bore a gaping wound. No reason could be suggested for the tragedy this morning by Miss Mill's relatives and friends. She had apparently been in 'the best of health and was very popular in the district. The Coroner, Mr. F. Short, accompanied by Sergeant Miller of the.local police proceeded to Kutarere later in the day and opened an inquest, which was adjourned until Wednesday after formal evidence had been taken. The next phase of the tragedy was the discovery about 7 o'clock last night at Waimana of the body of Tahi Takao, a Maori youth 21 years of age. He also had apparently shot himself. It is understood that Takao had been keeping company with Olive Mills and it is suggested that the double shooting was the result of a tragic pact between the two, though no reason for the rash act can at present be suggested. " An inquest into the death of Takao will be held in Whakatane on Moiiday.