SENSATION AT KAIAPOI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVII, Issue 12850, 24 June 1902, Page 3

SENSATION AT KAIAPOI.

SUICIDE IN THE MAORI PA. At about nine o'clock yesterday morning, G. P. Mutu, a prominent Maori a;t Tuahiwi Pa, near Kaiapoi, committed tuici.de by shooting himself, with a fowling-piece, through the heart. On Sunday he and his wife spent the day at a relative's at Waikuku, and so far as can be gathered- his detmeanrnw.';did not lead to any suspicions that h« contemplated self-destruction. Shortly before eight o'clock yesterday morning he called up a yoorog Native named. Walter Pohio, who had lived with him for* about ten years, and told him to go to Kaiapoi for some meat and groceries. Pohio slept in a small cottage within a chain of Mutu's house, and he had the latter's double-barrelled gun in the place. Just as Pohio was leaving for Kaiapoi Mutu asked him for the key of the cottage. Pohio replied! that the place was unlocked, and felt some surprise at Mutu asking for the key, as he had not entered the place for a considerable time, and there did not appaair any reason for 'Ms going there. Shortly before nine o'clock Mutu after walking about in front of the place for some time was seen by Miss Cosisgrove, who lives on the opposite side of the road, to enter the cottage. This apparently was the last time he was seen alive. About half an hour later Pohio returned- from Kaiapoi and entering the cottage noticed a strong smell of gunpowder smoke. Going to the next room he found Mutu stretched at full length on his back on the floor. Blood was flowing from his breast and he. <wm quite dead. The police and Dr Murray were immediately summoned from' Kaiapoi. Deceased was lying on a carpet which- had been partly spread on. the floor. Near him was lying a 'double-barrelled gun with one discharged cSftridge case and a misfire * cartridge 'in it. Two loaded cartridges were found in his coat pocket, \ and it is stated .that he purchased the munition .on Saturday at Woodend. Five letters, were found" spread in a row on the mantelshelf in the same all in deceased's handwriting, and addressed to different persons in the pa. They were written in Maori, and dated June 21, 22 and. 23, the'one of the latter date having evidently been hurriedly written yesterday morning. The who was about fifty years of age, has for years been prominent at all Native functions. He was trained for the ministry by the Rev W. J. Stack, and was ultimately ordained,and for several years acted as incumbent of -St Stephen's, Maori Church at the pah. Some years ago, however, he resigned from the ministry, but continued- his residence in the pah. He, lost his only son, a promising lad, several years ago, and four or five years ago his wife died,' but he married again. 'He has a daughter, Mrs W. Uru, wife of Lieutenant Uru, who is in England with the Coronation Contingent, and his mother is still alive, and resided with him. The occurrence naturally caused much excitement in, the pa, and the cries of the women could be heard for a considerable distance. Much sympathy was shown with the deceased's aged mother, who was almost frantic with grief. ' THE INQUEST. Mi- H. W. Bishop, S.M.,".held aninqiuest at deceased's residence at 2 o'clock in the oiternoon, Mr J. Lowthian Wilson being, foreman, of the'jury. ; , -,.'■. \ , Moetroa Mutu-, wife of the deceased', stated that, he. rose as usual in the mtorning,, and went, outside, that being tho last she saw of him alive. He had not said anything'at any time about doing away with himself.. He had'• suffered from astluna lately. , Walter Pohio gave similar evidence. Constable Simpson' produced the five letters found in the room with deceased's body. In one, addressed to Taitutia. Hape, under date June 22, deceased stated that the act of 'taking l his life was his own. j He had duly, considered it and thought it was the only thing he pould do. He 'referred to debts, mortgages .-and bad health, which had caused him trouble, and asked ' to have his wife looked after. In another, addressed to : Ti Aika, he stated that his suicide was entirely due to weight of debts he could see no prospects of paying. A i third letter, addressed to Charles Flutey, showed that he hiad contemplated suicide for several days, and he gave instructions respecting property matters he wished at l tended! to., The letter..'■mitten, on Monday morning was -addressed to Hoani Ma'aka. Deceased stated,that he bad not been, feeling very well, and could . not. digest his food. He wished his body taken direct tw the cemetery from the, room in- which) he shot himself, and that no furs should* be made. Those who regretted him could do so quietly and 1 amply. ] After the inquest, he wished to be buried as quickly as possible. Writing to his daughter, Mrs Uru-, he said l of late he had been unable to sleep. He had debte ho was not able, to pay, andi this with bad health, made life not worth living. Dr Murray stated that he had examined deceased's body and found a gunshot wound in the chest towards the left. Death must have been instantaneous, and the gun hiad been hold close pressed to the body. Deceased consulted him, last week for chronic indigestion;. He also suffered from chronic bronchitis, with occasional attacks of bronchial asthma. This might cause insomnia*, and perhii|>s unsettle the mind. The jury returned a verdict that de>ceased died from a gunshot wound selfinflicted when in an unsound state of mind.