DEATH OF A MAORI.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1918, Page 7

DEATH OF A MAORI.

MOTOR ACCIDENT AT TIMARU HILL. INQUEST CONCLUDED. The inquest touching the death of a Native named Nanui Noa, who died in the New Plymouth Hospital on December 2» as the result of injuries received in a motor accident on December 20 was resumed at the Courthouse yesterday before the District Coroner (Mr A. Crooke, S.M.). Sergeant Trehey represented the police. Dr. Walker, superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital, gave evidence to the effect that deceased was admitted to tne hospital at 1.30 a.m. on December 27, 1817. It was reported that he had been injured through the overturning of a motor-car. There was no evidence of fracture but there was almost a complete absence of power in the lower limbs. This became absolute during the day, and the right arm showed a similar loss. On the 28th the left arm became paralysed, and it was obvious that lie had an increasing hemorrhage within the spinal canal, causing compression of the spinal cord. During the night of the 28-l!9th, the muscles of respiration became affected, and he died at 0.20 a.m., the cause of death being cardiac and respiratory failure, due to compression ot the nerve centres, dependent on intro-spinai liemorrage. The primary cause of 5 death wa; rupture of vessels and consequent hemor rhage within the spinal column. Raupa Dix, farmer, 18 years of age residing at Pungarehu, said he had been driving a motor for about one year. In December 20 he drove deceased and a party of natives to the New Plymouth races and also arranged to drive the party back from tne race 3. At about 11 p.m. on that date he picked up deceased in Devon street. 'He also picked up Henarc Tane, and Ririkore Wharepori and Moses, his son. Hen, then started out for Pungarehu. Deceased was riding in the back of the car. Was not travelling fast going down the Timaru Hill—the speed would not have exceeded H> miles an hour. The back tyre came nfl as thfv were going down the hill. The tyre was not very tight, but had licci. pumped up before leaving New Plymouth. He did not know what moused the tvri to leak. On going round the corner he heard a sound as though the tyre had punctured. He immediately applied the foot J brake, but the car was swinging to the left, and then turned nver. Witness was thrown out ou the road. Deceased was lying on the road on the side of thi bank. He told the others his arms and 1 back were sore. Deceased was not able lo walk. Mr. Larkin.. of Rahotu, came aiong in his car and took deceased to tin New Plymouth Hospital Witness could not say what time the accident happen ed. The night was bright and there were good lights on the car. The tyre that oame off was from the back leftside wheel. The back wheel—a wooden one—was smashed. The car was a. Fofd and was about 12 months' old. The brakes were in good order and had never given any trouble. The wheel that was damaged was the same wheel that was on the car when it was bought. Henare Tane, laborer, residing a I Wnrea, deposed tlikt he left New Plymouth oil December 2G in a car driven by the previous witness. He had no idea of the speed at which the car was being driven. He thought he could drive a horse and gig as fast as the car was going. He was thrown out when the accident happened, ar.d he also found deceased on the roadside, clear of the car All the occupants of the car were perfectly sober. To the Coroner: The car did not seem to witness to be going too fast. The accident happened at the first corner going down the hill—not far from the top of the hill. Ririkore 'Wharepori, farmer, residing at Pungarehu, in giving evidence, said he did not know what caused the eat to capsize. He was thrown out of the -?ar, and when he got up he saw the left hind wheel off the car. The tyre was or. the wheel. He thought the car was going slowly down the hill. The speed was not reduced when they went down the hill. 'Raupa Dix, recalled, said to the Coroner that the left hind wheel came off the axle. The spokes 'broke and the rim came off, and the tyre came off the rim. It was the spare wheel that the previous witness The hub did not come oft the axle He could not say what caused the spokes to break. There were three occupants in the back seat and oncbeside himself in the front seat. To Sergeant Trehey; The Timaru Hill was not a steep hill. 'He reduced speed a little going down the hill. Constable Hadler, stationed at Fitzroy, said he went to the locality of the accident on December 23. Tlie Occident occurred about half way down the hii There was a distinct m:irk of the car wheel going down as it got off the crown of the road on to the soft dust, on the side. It showed signs of dragging heavily to the bank on the left side. The hill is fairly steep, and there is a slTarp bend where the accident happened. The road is a good metalled road. Witness found 13 spokes and part of another which appeared to have, been wrenched out of the hub. He found them scattered for some distance along the road. The spokes appeared to be good material. nc also saw a broken wind-shield lyinsr on the road. For a few feet before the c;ir capsized there was a deep score in the bank at the side of the road which appeared to have been made bv the Imiof the front wheel and was probably the cause of the car capsizing. The Coroner said it was evident that the capsize of the car had been caused ■by the wheel collapsing from the fact tlmt the spokes were scattered along the r °i J' was extrrio i'diiiary that the wheel of a car that had 'been ruiinin" only about 12 months should collapse'! .But that appeared to be what had happened and the car had dragged to the left side and then overturned. He found that deceased met with an accident on' 11 l 5 tof December 29 while riding in a motor car driven by Raupa Dix but that there was no blame attachable to any one for the accident. The cause of death was as stated in the medical evidence.