THE MOTU FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 197, 20 August 1900, Page 8

THE MOTU FATALITY.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

OPOTIKI, this day

The s.s. Terranora .yesterday morning picked up one* of the bodies drowned at Motu, to east of Whakatane Point, forty miles from the scene of the disaster. The natives have now tapooed all the fishing grounds, from Tekaha to Matata for one year, thus depriving themselves of one of their chief articles of food. The Opotiki "Herald" gives additional details in connection with the recent canoe accident at the Motu River" by which 18 lives were lost. Four, other bodies have been found since the previous advices. The body of Paora Arapeta was cast ashore at Tokaroa, and a little further along Mere Heeni Waewae. The body of Mihi Arapeta was washed up at Torere and another little girl near the same place not yet identified. On the morning after the inquest at Maraenui, the body of the man Pani was recovered, the right arm torn from its socket at the shoulder, a gash in the right side and the fleshy part of the right thigh toru from the bone. The body was wrapped in blankets, brought in, and shortly afterwards buried. About the same time the body of Tawhi Arapeta, aged six years, was found on the beach, brought in, and laid alongside the three little coffins. The scene of. mourning after this little one was laid out was most-affecting, the father and mother kneeling one on each side fondling the remains of their" little lost one, while over one hundred people stood around joining in their melancholy death-chant. A movement is on foot by the Europeans of Opotiki to raise a sufficient sum to purchase a ton of flour or some other necessary article of food to help the Maraenui natives in their liresent straits. This sudden calamity coming on them compels them according to old Maori custom to entertain their friends to a very large extent; about 000 people a day had to be provided for. The natives all round are sending in their contributions, and their pakeha friends intend to show their sympathy in a practical manner also.