TE WHAITI TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 3

TE WHAITI TRAGEDY.

CAPSIZE OF MOTOR LORRY. THIRD DEATH REPORTED. INJURED CARRIED HOME. RUA'S COMMAND OBEYED. y Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, this day. An inquest into the death of Miki Tewakaunua, one victim of Te Whaiti motor accident, was held on the spot on Saturday.

Mr. W. L. Richards, J.P., conducted the inquiry, with the assistance of a jury of four, consisting of Messrs. Walter Smith (foreman), William Hector, George Robert Clayton and William Dunn.

Constable Johnston represented the police.

Evidence was given by the driver of the vehicle, H. Macpherson, who stated that he left the upper pa at Te Whaiti at 2.30 a.m. on Friday to return to Ruatahuna toith a party of Maoris, who had been attending a tangi at Te Whaiti. The accident occurred within 200 yards of the pa, at a sharp bend. Witness thought that the accelerator jammed, and was not released when he was changing into second gear. The ground was friable and there was a steep, almost perpendicular fall of 50 feet to the >ry creek of the Whirinaki. At 1 'he foresaw trouble, and put on i lakes, but the car rolled over, an-' •' • occupants were thrown out.

Wilson Croft, an expert in car mechanism, who had examined the wreck, stated that everything was in order, and all the brakes were hard on.

After further evidence had been given the inquest was adjourned, sine die.

Another death is reported from the King George V. Hospital as the result of the accident. Houpapa Te Mai, an old native of Ruatahuna, succumbed to spinal injuries.

Those in a a serious condition are: — Rumare Kotau, Te Kirikeri, Akahuna Hoani and her infant daughter.

Rua, the Urewera prophet, issued a command from Maungapohatu that all those concerned in the accident are to return to their homes. This was obeyed. and some were carried the wholf 17 miles through the rough bush track that leads from Ruatahuna to Maungapohatu. It is not an easy journey, even for an athletic man.