AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 38

AUCKLAND.

At Whangamata a Maori woman gave birth to triplets, all living. A large consignment of Australian fruit arrived from Sydney by the Westralia, consisting of oranges, mandarins, and apples. The packages were all carefully inspected by Captain Broun, Government entomologist, and the whole shipment passed, there not being a particle of scale on the fruit. This is the first clean shipment which has been landed at this port for some time.

A man named John Skinner has been missing from his home at Kihikihi since Sunday morning. After a thorough search the body was discovered in a creek near Kihikihi. Skinner was about 53 years of age.

Alfred Brighton, 26 years of age, a seaman on the Taieri, has been missing since Thursday. He went up town (Auckland) for the evening, and it is feared he fell over the wharf. Ho was a native of England. Ihe Taieri left with his effects on board.

. With regard to the death of J. Skinner, whose body was found in Mangahoi Creek on the 11th, it is surmised that deceased, who w.is deaf and dumb, lost his way in the scrub and undergrowth. The swampy nature of tho land in the neighbourhood of the creek made travelling very difficult, and in parts almost impassable. The verdict of the jury Further particulars have been received of the incmest held on the Maori woman near

Mongonui. The evidence went to show that deceased died on tho Bth ult. Three weeks before her death she was confined, and three" days afterwards complained of being feverish and ill. She requcited her husband to go for (be tolnmga. Her husband went and brought NiLo Papata. The tohunga then told deceased's husband that he must dip her three times in cold water. The husband carried deceased that night to the lake, stripped her, and dipped her in the lake. He did the same on the folloving morning. The tohunga was not present on each ocension. Two weeks afterwards deceased's husband again dipped her in ihe water. The day after the last dipping her friends carried her to Eangiaohia, eight miles from her home Deceased died two days afterwards, and was buried in due course. On the sth inst. a permit vas granted by the Colonial Secretary to exhume the body for an inquest. The jmy, as already telegraphed, returned a verdict that tho death of ihe woman i\ns caused by or was greatly due to the treatment she received, and condemned the action of tbe tohunga and others in the matter. Tho following rider was added to the verdict: — " That publicity be given to the fact that free medicine and treatment can be obtained by Native* at Mongonui, and that the special attention of Natives be called to this fact. "