Suicide of a Native Girl

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6784, 22 September 1893, Page 2

Suicide of a Native Girl-

0 [From a Correspondent.] Awanui, Sept. IS. — Great excitement was caused at Port Awanui on Sunday the 17th inst, when it became known that a young Native girl named A mere Pararaka, aged 16 years, had committed suicide by hanging herself at a place about three miles from Port Awanui. It appears that she had lived with her father at To Kapu, and that on Friday the loth she left her home to visit her friends. The following day she was brought home by her father. In the evening he left her with her step-mother, whilst ha proceeded to the wharenui to attend a Maori meeting. Shortly after he had left deceased went outside the house, without saying anything to her step-mother, and she was not seen alive again. When her father returned home, he missed her from the house, and went and enquired all over the settlement for her, but could get no tidings. He then became alarmed, then all her friends turned out to look for her. About 11 a.m. on the 17th Mere Grant, along with some young children, was going to her sister's place, and when on the way saw deceased's shawl lying on the ground. Another two or three steps revealed the horrible sight, for there was Amere Pararaka hanging with a rope around her neck, and tied to the limb of an old peach tree. Mere Grant began to cry, and thus gave the alarm. The father of the girl (deceased) then came up with some other Maoris, but no one at« tempted to go near the dead body. Information was at once sent to Const. Coughlan, who on his arrival cut the body down and examined it. There were no signs of vio« lencc besides those effected by the rope, which had sunk about J-inch into har neck. The hands were hanging naturally by hey side, and the toes were touching the ground* The inquest was held on the 18sfe instant,' before Mr G. G. Boyd, Acting-Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Hugh S. Black was chosen foreman. Constable Coughlan was in attendance, and represented the polico. The evidence was taken of Arapeta. Rarao (father of deceased), Tepora Humipaki (step - mother of deceased), Mere Grant (cousin of deceased), and Const. Coughlan. It seems that the girl was in love with a young Native named. Raihania, who jilted her. Thi3 preyed on her mind, and is believed to be the only reason for her committing this rash act. The jury returned a, verdict "That deceased committed SUwide whilst of unsound, mind."