MAHOENUI FATALITY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4762, 22 October 1935, Page 5

MAHOENUI FATALITY

DEATH OF MAORI FARMER. ADJOURNED INQUEST HELD. A verdict that deceased had met his death through his car overturning off a bridge on the Papakauri Road, Mahoenui, the cause of the accident being poor visibility and a bad approach to the bridge, was returned in the adjourned inquest on Robert Milton Lake, a Maori farmer, aged 30, of Mahoenui, who was killed on September 15. The inquest was taken before Mr. L. R. Jones, acting coroner and a jury comprising J. W. Bryant ‘(foreman), K. Black, A. Barlett and B. Condon. _ . Delivering its verdict, the jury added a rider* that the Waitomo County Council be recommended to erect railings on the sides of the bridge, as it was a recognised danger to the travelling public. In evidence, Edgar Rattenbury, farmer, Mahoenui, stated that he attended a party in the Mahoenui Hall at which, Lake was present. He accepted Lake’s offer to drive him home, a Maori named Tom Ruki also going in the car, in the back seat. On the way Lake stopped to allow a car driven by Albert Rattenbury to pass. The latter car stopped and unknown to witness a Maori named Dave Hook left it and sat in the back of Lake’s car.

Lake then drove on at about 20 miles an hour until he reached a bend a few yards from the concrete bridge. The car continued almost straight on, the left wheels going over the side, and then overturned. Witness was dazed, but ma'naged to get out from under the car. He was able to extricate another man, badly injured and smothered in blood, whom he thought was Lake. On being informed by a man who came to his assistance that the Maori was up on the road witness concluded that all the party was accounted for. It was not until some time later that the body of Lake was discovered pinned under the car. David Hook, who was knocked unconscious, stated that he had no knowledge of what had happened after the car overturned. James Taylor Moir, a fencer camped near the scene of the, accident, said that he assisted Ratte'nbury and an injured man from the car. There was another man on the road near the bridge. . After conversation with Hook some time later he returned to the car and found Lake’s body pinned under it. The night was very foggy. Albert Rattenbury and Ray Old, Mahoenui, stated that they had passed Lake’s car and agreed that the night was foggy and the bridge, dangerous. John Avery, a garage proprietor, Mahoenui, said that he had examined the steering gear on Lake’s car and found it in order. Constable C. W. Powell, Mokau, stated that the steering wheel of the car was pressing heavily on Lake’s throat and he appeared to have been strangled. A bend in the road was 40 feet from the bridge. The marks of the car wheels showed that it had proceeded almost straight on after the bend. The bridge had no side rails, and in his opinion was. very dangerous.