MAKUTU.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 223, 16 December 1897, Page 3

MAKUTU.

The coronial inquiry as to the death of Te Moananui at Waitatoke has resulted in a verdict " That deceased died from disease of the heart accelerated through fri"lit, the cause of fright being unknown." A magisterial inquiry was subsequently made by Messrs Noble and Dive, justictß, and the following decision was given : " That there is no direct evidence to show that death was caused by accused, and that the evidence of Dr. Murdoch satisfied the Bench that no other course was open to them but the dismissal of the accused." Ngapaki was then discharged from custody. The evidence before the coroner of Hauri, the wife of the Rev. Heta te Hata, shows that the accused aud deceased had been on friendly terms until three days after the confinement of Ngapaki, when she accused Te Moananui of bewitching her, and forced her to drink the milk from her breast mingled with some burnt hairs. This is an ancient Maori custom, supposed to break the spell and cause the death of the supposed witch. At sunset accused told deceased her time had come, and inveigled her outade the whare, wkeu she ran her by the shoulders towards Lake Taupo, returning shortly afterwards without her, declaring that the bad spirits had killed Moananui. The other natives immediately went m search and found deceased on the Lake beach with her face covered with blood.