DEATH OF MAORI BOY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 275, 10 February 1928, Page 13

DEATH OF MAORI BOY

UNUSUAL FEATURES WHISKY DRINKING ALLEGED Press Association. GISBORNE, To-day. Evidence of an unusual character was given at the inquest held at Tokomaru Bay to-day into the death of Heki Tapu, aged about 16 years, whose body was found floating in Te Puia Lake on Wednesday. He had Jieen missing from home since Sunday. George Lewes, jun., stated that about noon on Sunday he met a boy named Tame Pokai, who produced a bottle of whisky about three parts full. Together they consumed the contents, and the bottle was thrown into the lake. Witness walked round the back of the lake, where he met Tapu, who appeared to be under the influence of liquor and was soifiewhat incoherent in his speech. Lewes, who declared that he did not see anyone supply liquor to Tapu, left him where he met him. Later he and Pokai met again and went to the hospital, where, after talking for some time, they parted and went homo. Pokai telephoned him later in the evening and inquired after Tapu, and witness went out and searched in vain. Tame Pokai, in evidence, said he found a full bottle of whisky under the seat of a car which he drove for his employer. He took the bottle and went down to the lake, where he met Tapu. At a point near the quarry he had three drmks, and Tapu had two, and then witness left him. Witness met Lewes, and together they finished the bottle. Meanwhile Tapu had gone to lie down in the scrub, where he was later seen by Lewes. When Tapu could not be found later witness thought he would be all right, thinking he had stayed with friends. The jury returned a verdict that the lad was drowned on February 5, but there was not sufficient evidence to show how he got into the water.