NATIVECYCLIST KILLED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11011, 25 January 1926, Page 5

NATIVECYCLIST KILLED

SEQUEL TO COLLISION WITH CAR. TERRIBLE MISHAP NEAR WAIROA. (Special to the Times). WAIROA, jam 24. Cycling into Wairoa from Te Uhi pa yesterday, with his head down before a strong head wind, a Maori youth, Wi Te Kauru, no doubt breathed a sigh of relief in the fact that the worst part, of liis journey was over as ho approached the butter factory in the Mahia Avenue. Within a few minutes, however, lie was the victim of a shocking motor fatality. The time was shortly after noon, and as Te Kauru neared the factory two cars approached him from the direction of Wairoa. Both wei’c apparently going at a steady pace and had been travelling one benincl the other from the town. The front one was a Whitfield Service car driven by Mr L. Duncan, .and bound for Gisborne, and following him was a Hudson sedan driven by Mr W. McGregor, a taxi proprietor of Wairoa. Just as the cars approached the cyclist, MacGregor, evidently tired of receiving the other man’s dust, and desiring greater speed, stepped on the gas and drew past the service car. With the wind that was blowing and the dust that was being stirred up, In’s vision of the road' was hazy and he did not see Te Kauru until he was almost on him. MacGregor swerved to the left, but the .unfortunate Native, realising the danger, apparently lost his head and also, made for his right. With the short warning .and the nearness of the ear, no-brakes could have averted a collision, and the cyclist was caught head on by the dash light of the car and hurled to the ground. So fierce was the impact that the windscreen was shattered, the clash lamp broken, and the handle of the front door of the car torn right off.

Te Kauru’s head and shoulders were battered almost beyond recognition and when picked up was past all human aid. Dr. Hallwriglit was summoned immediately from Wairoa, but by the time lie arrived the unfortunate youth had passed away. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the accident will he opened in Wairoa to-day. Only formal evidence as to the identification of the body will he given and the inquest will be adjourned until February 1. The victim of the fatality was only seventeen years of age, and bis parents reside at Nuhaka.