WRUNG AS IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10837, 22 August 1898, Page 5

WRUNG AS IN THE NORTH.

A Mangoxui correspondent writes:—Detcctivo Maddem, Constable Dunne, and District . Constable Manoy have been engaged during the week in the native settlements near Rangiaohia, inquiring into the death of Ruhia Poharama, on whose body the inquest was held on the 10th inst. The natives proved very reticent, and in no ease was it found possible to implicate Ncho Popota, the tohunga, nor could any direct evidence be obtained confirmatory of his Maori position as , a lohunga. The case throughout has proved how much the Maoris are under t?j influence of tohungas, and it is very doubtful whether the police will bo able" to take any further steps. There is not sufficient proof to convict Ncho Popota of manslaughter, and it is even doubtful whether a magistrate would allow the case to go before a jury ; but tho unusual .proceedings and exhumation in connection with the inquest will undoubtedly prove very beneficial ill warning the natives against the malpractices of tohungas. The writer, who saw how disturbed and harassed the natives looked, feels convinced that though the conviction of Neho Popota, is impossible under the circumstances, the action already taken will have the desired effect of considerably curtailing the power,of the tohungas in the North, and of frightening the natives into applying for compolcnt medical advice whenever serious illnessi>s or diseases take place among them.