BURNED TO DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 10

BURNED TO DEATH

ELDERLY MAORI'S FATE DESTRUCTION OF WHARE BODY FOUND IN EMBERS [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tuesday The charred body of a Maori, Ilopg Tliin, aged about 60 years, was found about five o'clock this morning among the smouldering embers of a fire which destroyed his whare at Three Mile Bush, Kamo. The whare was isolated, and being in a gully was obscured from view. Deceased, who was a member of the Ngatikahu tribe, had resided at Three Mile Bush for about 12 years. Ife was engaged in gardening on a portion of his property and was considered by all a fine type of native. His grandfather was chief of the tribe and was the only Maori buried iu the Church of England Cemetery, Whangarei. When the smouldering fire was In vest gated by Mr. Gilbert Dobson, a neighbour and fanner, this morning he found deceased's dog a few feet from the spot where his master's body lay beneath thi red-hot iron. The dog would not rnovr away and was still in the vicinity thii evening. An inquest was held this afternoon before Mr. H. C. Hemphill, district coroner. Mr. Dobson, in evidence, said he had known deceased intimately for the last 12 years and saw him two days ago. He then appeared fit and well.

Witness said lie was not surprised afc the place being as deceased was in the habit of keeping a candle lighted during the night on a chair he-. side the bed, stating that he was very lonely at times and was also sometimes sick. Witness saw the fire about five o'clock this morning and immediately summoned the police. Mrs. Jane Allen said in evidence that when coming to milk Dobson's cows this morning she passed near the whare and saw it was burned. She immediately called Dobson. Henare Tenamu, a stepson of deceased, said he had lived with deceased in the whare for about three years until the previoiu night, when lie went to Maungatapere. Deceased was in good health when witness left. Witness knew deceased tc have gone asleep at times with a lighted candle beside liim and he was a heavy sleeper. Id witness' opinion this was the the cause of the fire. A verdict was returned that deceased was burned when his dwelling was accidentally destroyed by fire.