MAORI YOUTH’S DEATH

Grey River Argus, 10 February 1928, Page 5

MAORI YOUTH’S DEATH

After Drinking Whiskey BODY FOUND IN LAKE. GISBORNE, February 9. At the inquest held at Tokomaru Bay today, in connection with the Maori boy, Heki Tapu. aged about 16, whose body was found ftoaling in Tepuia Lake, on February Sth, having been missing from home since Sunday, evidence of an unusual character was adduced. George Dewes, junr, stated that about noon on Sunday he met the Maori boy Tame Pakai, who produced a bottle of whisky, about three parts full. Together they consumed the contents and the bottle was thrown into the lake. Witness walked around the back of the lake. Deceased appeared to be under the influence of liquor, and was somewdiat incoherent in speech. Dewes declared that he did not see anyone supply liquor to deceased, am! left him there. Later he and Pokai met again, and went to the hospital, where after talking for some time they parted and went home. Pakai phoned him later in the evening, and inquired after deceased, and witness went out and searched in vain. Tame Pakai, a Maori youth, said he found a full bottle of whiskey under thp seat of a car which he drove for his employer. He took the bottle and went down to the lake, where he met deceased. At a point near the quarry ln> ha ( | three drinks and deceased had two. Then witness left his companion. Witness met Dewes, and together they liuished Hie boGle. Meanwhile deceased had gone to lay down in the scrub where he was later seen by Dewes. When deceased could not be found, witness thought he would be all right, thinking he had stayed with friends. The jury returned a verdict that the lad was drowned on February 5. but there was not sufficient evidence as to how he got into the water.