A MAORI TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11539, 26 November 1900, Page 5

A MAORI TRAGEDY.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OP A CHIEF " - ' ON THE EAST COAST.

[BT TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' * : - Gisborne, Saturday. Constable Smith, of Port Awanui, has received the following message from Mr. T. W. Lyddle, storekeeper, at Kawakawa : — " The body of a Maori has been found on the beach above high-water mark. His face was covered with blood, and there was blood on the stones under his head. He was lying on his face, and those who found him turned him over. I expect there should be an inquest and think you had better come up at once." .....■■

Kawakawa is 30 miles from Port Awanui, the nearest police station, and the road is only traversable by daylight. Constable Smith and native' Constable Gerrard left at an early hour this morning, for the scene of the tragedy, where they are expected to arrive at ten a.m. Detective Henderson also left Gisborne early this morning, having three clays' ride in front of him. At first it was thought that the native's death might have been the result of an accident, probably through his falling from his horse, but that theory is discounted by the fact that the distance between the public-house, where a carouse is alleged to have been held, and the native pa was only about 200 yds, and the natives were travelling on foot. According to the native messenger Houkamana was found with his skull fractured over the eye. The deceased native, Petera Houkamana, was one of the leading chiefs of the Ngatiporou tribe. Either he or his brother received the mantle of the tribe as successor to the late Major Ropata. His death has caused a great sensation amongst the natives of the East Coast.