SUPPOSED POISONING BY TINNED MEAT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1566, 9 April 1887, Page 3

SUPPOSED POISONING BY TINNED MEAT.

DaATH oi a Maoei M.a.R. The death of Ihaka Te Hakuene, M.H.R. for the Northern Maori district, took place suddenly at Russell, Auckland, on Wednesday. Ihaka and other Natives wore attending tbs Synod at Auckland, and dinsd with Archdeacon Clirke on Sunday, a joint of roast beef and a dish of tinned besf being amongst the things provided. Several of the Natives, including Ihaka, partook of the latter, and became very ill. They consulted Dr Hopper in Auckland, who advised them to remain, bat Ihaka and two others belonging to the Bay of Islande district, returned home. Ihaka, after his arrival home, gradually got worse, and expired at five o’clock. The following further particulars were telegraphed from Auckland on Thursday; With reference to the poisoning of Ihaka Hakuene, M.H.R., Archdeacon Clarke states that on Saturday last a parly of Maori clergymen, the Revs, Renata, Hone Papshia, and Rukene Piereta, and also Ihaka Tetai, M.H.R., and Revs. G. Walpole and W. Biatty, were invited to lunch with him. Amongst tl e food was a beefsteak pie, and some compressed corned beef was made into haricot steak, and was eaten the same evening without any ill effects, thus] proving that poisoning was not due to defective tinning. The remnant of haricot was added to the beefsteak pie mxt day. The four, Mr Walpole, Mr Beatty, and Mrs Clarke, wife of Archdeacon Clarke, partook of the dish on Saturday night. About nine hours after, wards al', with the exception of Mr Beatty, were taken violently ill, the symptoms being purging and vomiting, Mrs Clarke appeared to be most seriously affected, although Mr Walpole also s' fferod a great deal. L"st fight Mrs Glurke was still very ill, although the doctors consider she was nearly out of danger. Mr Walpole is almost well again. Archdeacon Clarke attributes the poisoning to the preserved meat being twice cooked. The doctors who attended the patients refused to give information to the Press. Renata Tongata, a Maori minister, died at Mongonui this morning from the effects of eating tinned meat at Auckland on Sunday last. He was minister residing at Poria, near Mongonui, for a number of years. Up to this morning Mis Clarke's life was considered _in danger, but she is now apparently getting better.