DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 31

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

MAORI WOMAN KILLED. HUSBAND IN SERIOUS CONDITION. HAMILTON, March 9. A shocking tragedy occurred at the Te Kowhai settlement, about eight miles from Hamilton, this afternoon, a Maori woman named Ngapeti Koti Rawiri, being killed, and her husband, Peter Rawiri, being sent to hospital in such a serious condition that he is not expected to recover. The deceased and her husband, together with her brother, Koti and Ehan, another native, stayed the previous night at Ngaruawhia Pa, leaving this morning for Te Kowhai. Koti left the party when about a mile from his destination. On arrival at the whare Peter Rawiri went outside and called his wife, and shortly afterwards Ehan, who remained ia the whare heard an explosion followed by footsteps approaching and receding from the whare On going outside he saw Peter Rawiri falling near a body lying on the ground. An investigation showed a woman’s body badly shattered by an explosion, and a man’s left hand, blown off at the wrist and also his throat fearfully gashed. A razor was lying alongside. A neighbour was communicated with and summoned the police who brought the body into Hamilton and conveyed the man to hospital. His condition is considered hopeless. The cause of the tragedy is a mystery. The members of the party were all friendly, and there bad been no quarrelling and there was no evidence of liquor. The injured man had been working in another district and had returned home only the previous day. The deceased leaves two or three children.

NO ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS HAMILTON, March 10.

No additional facts were elicited at the inquest this morning on the Maor" woman who met her death by an explosion yesterday. The two Natives last.in the company of the victims gave evidence that there was no bad feeling between them. Rawiri used gelignite for draining work. The inquiry was adjourned to enable the police to obtain further evidence. The injured man was operated upon •last night, and his condition this teeming is unchanged.