FATAL ACCIDENT

Franklin Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5, 15 January 1943, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT

INQUEST OPENED POST-M 0 RT EM ORD E RED SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT The inquest concerning- I lie death of 'the Maori, Tu Whakarara. known as Tom Taaka, who was round dead in a truck owned by the Franklin Electricpower Board on Sunday morning lasi, was opened al Thames on Monday afternoon before Mr \V. M. Wall null, coroner, of Waihi. The vehicle was unlawfuly taken from I lie board’s •depol in Manukau Road. IMikckohe. on the nigh I of Salurday-Sunday last, and subsequently discovered in about six feet of water after il had crashed through the railings of the bridge across Ihe Manga tarn l.a stream, near Waitakaruru. Evidence of idenl ideal ion was given by Mao lah i Panui. labourer, of Pukekohe. who staled that deceased was a single man. about id years of age, and resided with his pa veil Is al Pukekohe. where be followed Ihe occupation ol labourer. Witness had known him tor about three years, and had recently been working with him on Ihe native development scheme at Pukekohe. Tie last saw Taaka alive at about I p.m. ■on Saturday, January 0. when he finished work for the day. Taaka had been employed on Ihe scheme for the past two months or more. Witness had never known him to drive a motor-vehicle, nor had he ever told witness that lie could drive one. When he last saw deceased he never mentioned anything about going through to Thames or going in that direction. All the time he had known Taaka he half always been in good health. On the application of Constable R. W. Beasley, of Kercpeehi. who appeared for the police, an adjournment sine die was granted. A post-mortem was ordered by the coroner.