CHIEFTAINESS HURT

Northern Advocate, 21 May 1929, Page 6

CHIEFTAINESS HURT

COMPENSATION CLAIM

SKQUEf. TO MOTOR .SMASH.

WONDERFUL RECOVERY MADE

(Special to “Northern Advocate. *’) AUCKLAND, This Day.

Native afl'a/irs in the dark Urewera wore investigated from a, new angle when the principal wife of the Maori prophet, Hna, a ch'iefta,incss named Patu Ro. of long lineage and high rank, entered the witness box at the Supreme Court and for two hours gave evidence through an interpreter. Patu Ru was one of three claimants for compensation totalling £U)00 as the result of a motor lorry .accident which occurred on the little known road between Te Whaiti and Ruatahnna in January of last year.

Two Maori men had been killed and several occupants of a lorry driven by Hugh McPherson a ■storekeeper at Ruatahuna, had received injuries. Patu Ru liad-been laid up in a serious condition for two .months after the accident, and was still suffering from her injuries. Patu Ru said she was one of a party •of 2(5 natives that went from Rnatoluma to Te Whaiti to attend a tang). The distance was 17 miles, and tin outward journey had been made without mishap. It was on the return that the accident occurred.

"Go gently, yon might kill us,” one of the Maoris had called out to the driver, said Patu Ru. Witness had also asked the driver to go slowly-

Witness was on the front seat with her two children, and was plunged into a swamp. Brought out of the swamp, she was 'washed with warm water, because she was covered with mud. She added, in reply to a cpiestion by counsel: "There wore no prayers. I am not a Eatana-itc.” In reply to a further question .she said she was sure warm water had been used.

"Tic rule of cold water belongs to a certain sect called the Ringatus,” added witness, "but Rua has changed all that and made it hot water.” It was not until two days after the accident that medical help was obtained for Patu Ru. .She had been told that the doctor was annoyed at Patu Ru being put in cold water, and als,o about the delay, but witness was quite sure that cold water had never been used.

"Did Rua send through instructions that nobody was to go into the hospital?” asked his Honour, Witness: It was two days after the accident before anybody came from where Rua was.

Counsel: Did yon tell anyone in the pa you were waiting for Run’s instructions'? —No.

The witness described how she was removed from Ruataiuuia to her own village, Maungapohatu, 14 miles distant, by the Maori method of conveyance in a blanket litter. She did not want to be taken to Rotorua, as she could not bear to be handled and was sore all over.

Counsel: The whole truth is that Rua said you were not to go to the hospital f-j-Rua was not there.

Was not this case dictated by Una and you wore just doing what you were told? —No. The first to start the case was the son of one of the Maoris killed in the accident. Were not all the others satisfied with the finding at the inquest?—No. His Honour: Well, put the question straight.' Has Una told you to bring this action? —First of all the son of: one of the dead men told me that ho was going to bring the ease. His Honour: Where docs he live?— Maungapohatu. Does he live with Rua? —No ; he has a house of his own. Is he one of the Rua tribe?—No answer. In answer to a , following question,; witness said that she had only been handled by her own people. Counsel: Was there any more cold water or prayer treatment? —No, there was no cold water at all. Rua is very unfriendly with the McPhersons. There is a lot of ill-fel-iug?—Not as far as I know. Constable McPhetson could not go to Maungapohatu. He had to got a lot of police from Hamilton? —This case had started before that. (Laughter.) Questioned about her position in the tribe, Pahi Ru said she was the principal wife of Rua. She had five children, but only two were living. Before the accident she used to look after the men, cook the kumaras, and attend to the crops, and so on. She said that Rua did not have much money. In re-examination Patu Rn was asked if more claims wore going to be b rough t. His Honour suggested it was tooi late for such action to bo taken, but! counsel replied that under the Actj' similar eases might be brought where) negligence was alleged.

“Bid you have any medical treat ment at all?”—“No. “ Dr. Keith Mucky said lie examined Iktu Ru last month. She had suffered a fracture near the centre of the spine with haemorrhage, causing paralysis. She had made an excellent recovery and a surgeon could not have improved matter. He certainly would have ordered the. woman to hospital where she would have been kept in bed from eight to ten weeks. The hearing was adjourned until morning when live further witnesses for the plaintiffs are expected to arrive from the Brewera.