DR. POTAKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 3 October 1936, Page 6

DR. POTAKA

DIES IN NELSON HOSPITAL RESULT OF MORPHINE POISONING SERIOUS INJURY TO AN EYE WHILE IN THE ANTARCTIC Dr. Louis Hauiti Potaka, aged 35 years, who was brought from Takaka and admitted to the Nelson Public Hospital at 4.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon in an unconscious condition, died at 6.20 o’clock from morphine poisoning. Dr. Potaka was brought to Nelson by Dr. A. R. Green and Mr Dave Mason, of Takaka.

An inquest was opened at the I Public Hospital before Mr T. | E. M-unsell, Coroner, this morning. Evidence was given by the Medical Superintendent, Dr. P. C. Brunette, that Dr. Potaka was admitted in a low condition and was treated for poisoning, but died as a result of morphine poisoning at 6.20 o’clock. On his person was found a note, written on the back of a letter, evidently during the journey from Takaka, stating: “I injured my eye seriously while in the Antarctic and have not slept properly since January, 1935, and death will be a relief.” The inquest was adjourned to Takaka sine die. RESPONSE TO CALL Dr. Potaka. who was practising in Takaka, had previously been in practice at Murchison. He was one time on the staff of the Nelson Hospital. He will be well remembered for the part he played in the Byrd Antarctic expedition in 1934, when he went down in February in response to an appeal for a relieving medical officer. A wireless message was published on 18th February. 1934, from Admiral Byrd, asking for a fully qualified doctor and surgeon. A doctor was required as medical officer at the Expedition’s base at Little America for at least twelve months. It was stated that one of the ’planes at the Expedition’s base would arrange to meet the Jacob Ruppert, which was to convey the doctor from New Zealand, some distance from the Bay of Whales and pick up the doctor. Dr. Potaka offered his services and was accepted. He was soon aboard a service car at Nelson for the South to join up with the vessel which had been sent for him. “Well, they wanted somebody, and I happened to be free,” he said in answer to a question why he had offered himself for the position. He added that he had been on the point of departing for Samoa when the request for a doctor for the expedition had been made, and had decided in favour of the Antarctic as being more interesting. A YEAR IN ANTARCTICA There Dr. Potaka’s confidences ceased. He was asked whether he thought the cold of the polar regions would suit him, since he was a full-blooded Maori, but replied bravely: “Wait and see. That is hard to say yet.” The same answer was made when he was asked if he intended to spend the full year with the expedition, but he added: “I might not last as long as that myself.” Under pressure he admitted that if all went well he would probably stay in Little America until the expedition returned.

Dr. Potaka y/as born at Rata, near Rangitikei, 35 years ago. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and took his medical degrees at Otago University. He was a house surgeon in the Nelson Public Hospital for a year and a half, and then practised at Murchison for three and a half years. Dr. Potaka joined the Discovery II at Port Chalmers. The Discovery was met at a point about 700 miles north of Little America by the Bear of Oakland to which Dr. Potaka was transferred and in which he was later taken to Little America. Later the Bear of Oakland brought Dr. Shirey back to New Zealand.