THE LIQUOR QUESTION AND THE KING COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 14 September 1900, Page 2

THE LIQUOR QUESTION AND THE KING COUNTRY.

Under the above heading there appeared in our issue of the 4th inst. a letter signed " Phil Maori," stating that a native named Horima recently went to Waitara, drew his old age pension money, got drunk, and on his way home on a oold, bitter night, laid down on the roadside and died from exposure. By direction of Sergeant Stagpoole, Constable Bleasel, stationed at Waitara, has been making a mo-t minute inquirinto the case, with the following result:—He finds that the Maori in question went into Waitara on the 2Gth of August, and, so far as can be ascertained, had no drink him e'f, but " shouted" for two or three others. As he was sufl'ering" from diarrhrea he .j purchased 2s woitliof spi'its to take home wiih him, at>d started on his way. Before reaching home, however, ho was compelled to get off his horse, which went away without him, he leing too feeble to follow it up. Moreover, he was nearly stone blind and eould not find his way about, so he lay down on ft? i'QiKlside vvlw he was fouml in tU?

morning, as the return of the horse led to a search being made. When found there was at least half the spirits left in the bottle he carried, and he had evidently been taking small doses all night to try and keep himself warm. It was not till eight or nine days after that the man died at the age of 78, and very infirm. Whether or not the exposure may have hastened his end, cannot be said for certain, but the cause of death was attributed to natural decay. With regard to* drawing the old age pension, the payment was not due until September Ist, so that there could be no connection between the poor old man's death and the alleged drunkenness consequent on the receipt of the pension, ,