TRAGIC DEATHS OF COUSINS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 6

TRAGIC DEATHS OF COUSINS

MAORI AND HALF-CASTE, GIRL

VICTIMS OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS

OPOTIKI, May 22.

The deaths under tragic circumstances of a young Maori and a halfcaste Maori, girl, who are believed to be cousins, were discovered yesterday. Olive Mill, aged 19, was found lying on the floor of a bedroom at the house where she lived with her mother and stepfather at Kutarere, 12 miles from Opotiki yesterday morning. She had a gunshot wound in the chest and died shortly after being found. A single-barrel shotgun was lying beside her. It had a piece of string attached to the trigger and tied to the leg of a bed. The mother of the deceased, Teko Tepapa, made the discovery on her return from a store. An inquest was opened before the coroner, Mr F. J. Short, and was adjourned until Wednesday after evidence of identification had been taken.

In the afternoon the body of a young Maori, Tajhi Takao, aged 2i, was found with a shotgun wound through the heart lying on the floor of a pa at AVaimata, 17 miles from Gisborne. The gun had been used earlier in the clay for shooting game. Deceased was to have been a witness at the inquest concerning the death of Olive Mill. An inquest concerning the young man's death will be held at Wha.katane.