DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25455, 9 February 1944, Page 4

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

MAORI FARMER AND WIFE MURDER AND SUICIDE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 8. A double tragedy occurred this afternoon at Ahipara, a Maori settlement at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, when a Maori farmer, after killing his -wife, took his own life. The victims were: Kahiti Koha, a farmer, aged about 61 years, and Mrs Ani Kahiti Koha, aged about 58 years. Koha, who was a returned soldier from the last war, lived with his wife, two daughters, and an adopted son in a three-roomed house on his farm at Ahipara. He was farming under the supervision of the Native Department. The tragedy occurred at 2 o'clock. Shortly after Mr Brian Wilson, an officer of the Native arrived at the farm, he discovered Koha some distance from the house. He was suffering from a severe wound in the throat and was clutching a razor. He died soon afterwards. The body of Mrs Koha was discovered further away from the house. Deep wounds had been inflicted about the head, and a bloodstained axe was found nearby. The adopted son and one daughter were at schcol at the time of the tragedy. The elder daughter, who assists on the farm, was in the house and ran to secure help from some Maoris who were working nearby.