One of the Victims Interviewed.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1887, Page 3

One of the Victims Interviewed.

NEW THEORIES TO EXPLAIN THE

ACCIDENT.

A reporter of the "Northern Luminary," in order to get at the cause of the deaths of Maoris in Bay of Islands, interviewed Sydney Cotton, one of the native guests at Archdeacon Clarke's, as follows :—

Reporter: Well, Sydney, still alive? • Sydney : Yes, but 1 have been very sick since the Parnell dinner-, writhing in pain and vomiting. In fact, nearly dead. Reporter : Feel any better now ? Sydney : "Yos, but I am anxious about tho others.

Reporter : What others ? Tell me all about, the affair for tho benefit of the " Northern Luminary." You yourself have always subscribed to tho paper ; the boss knows you, and will believe your story; he feels sorry for the melancholy occasion.

Sydney : Well, to commence at the bomnninn;. Oh Saturday, 2nd April, a number of Native Churchmen, who had attended tho late Synod meeting in Auckland, were invited to dine at Archdeacon Clarke's, Parnell, before taking our departure for the North. Fourteen of us sat down to dine. Archdeacon Clarke and lady, and the Uev. Mr Wai pole were present, so was Mr Burrows—yet, I now almost forget, I have been so upset. Reporter : What was there to eat ? Sydney: Oh, boiled corned beef, beef pie, rice, and tarts.

Reporter : Any vegetables ? Sydney : Yen, plenty of everything. Mr Wai pole helped us, and I noticed poor lhakn te Tai, who lias now pone to his long home, ato a hearty meal from the beef pie, and some of the entrements of sweets.

Reporter

What did tho others eat ?

Sydney : Everything going ; Renata, of Mongonui, who, I grieve to relate, died on Thursday, participated in a goodly share of the things provided. J don't know what was his weakness though.

Reporter: And what did you induVe in ?

Sydney : I patronised Mr Walpole's dish of corned beef, and never touched the pie. I felt hoppy, and helped myself freely to rice and npplo tart afterwards.

Reporter : Yes, what, happened next ? Sydney : We began to disperse after a while. I did nob at. first feel any un- | comfortable symptoms. Bub after a bit, Isaac or Reriata (one of them) asked mo if I felt any pain in my stomach. Another one said he did. I said I had a very slight pain. I left with the intention of meeting a friend of mine. Hoforo reaching my friend's residence, and when I gob to Freeman's Bay, I felt violent pains in my stomach, and very -severe pains in my head, accompanied by profuse perspiration. I soon became quite overdone, and sat by the roadside. Eventually, I found shelter with a friend, and was provided with a blanket. I remained for the night. Medical assistance was called in ; castor oil was administered, and it relieved me considerably. While sick, I was visited by several members of the Churcli and clergy, and was then informed several of my friends were very sick. Throughout Sunday and Monday, I felt much better, and I and other natives returned by tho Clansman to Russell. We were all so weak though that assistance was required to help us on board and nshorc again at Russell. When I reached home at Waimate, I felt worse, and was attended by Mr Wm. King and Dr. Wattling during the week. THE CAUSE OF DEATH. The "Luminary" remarks: "At first the supposition was that the meat pie having been partially made up of tinned meat, was the poisoning element, but as some of those who are sick partook of none, nnd most all consumed of the ' pastry which was made from the same dough as the pie, it. may be assumed that by «ome accident poison got into the flour or some other ingredient. Then we have vegetable.?. No one has thought of the vegetables ! These are mostly produced in Auckland by the Chinee—the heathen . Chinee, —who, in his efforts to raise a particular crop, may have indulged in too much ammonium—a combination of hydrogen and nitrogen—manure.