TAURANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1399, 12 May 1868, Page 3

TAURANGA.

(PKOM ora OWN COBBBBPOMIENT.) May 8. A Comtek's Inquest took place on Monday and Tuesday last at the Taurauga Hotel on the body of Hamuera Te lieu who met with his death at the hands ofKereti, a son of Te Moananui on the 30th ult., at Katikati. Colonel Harrington acted as coroner, and the jury were composed of six Europeans and six Maoris. Mr. "Warbrick, interpreter. Aftor the jury had viewed the body the interpreter addressing the ooroner said that on account of the deoeased being of the tribe of the late William Thompson, and having being left by that chief in his charge to watch over their interests in their lands, he felt some diffidence in acting as interpreter on this occasion, he was also connected with the Ngaetirangi, who were also concerned in the subject of this■ enquiry ; after this statement, if the coroner and jury were of opinion that he should act aB interpreter he would willingly do so, although a duty of some delicacy. The Ooroner put it to the jury, when it was at once agreed that Mr. Warbrick be desired to act.

From the evidence, (Maori throughout) elicited, it would seem that a number of natives of whom the deceased wag one, had met at the whare of Te ITani, atOponui, and formed a card party, tut wheie a large amount .of spirits were flying about ; having formed themselves into parties a quarrel or squabbling ensued, when the deceased endeavoured to makepeace between them and a stone thrown at another native by Kereti struck deceased on the head, who instantly became specchless, and died in a few hours. Doctor Henty who had held a post mortem examination on the body, in his evidence stated that irrespective of the injury inflicted by the stone, from the state of hia brain ho must inevitably have fallen a victim on the first occasion of any very great excitement.

Tho Coroner drew the } ury's attention to the very conflicting testimony of the Maori witnesses, who were all more or less drunk when the fatal occurrence took {>lace, the evidence of the medical gentleman being that on which they must placo more reliance, and that of the wife of deceased. The jury returned a verdict to effect that deceased died from constitutional disease,; accelerated by the blow from a stone thrown by Kereti. A rider was added with reference to the facilities Maoris had of obtaining large quantities of spirits.