FALL FROM A HORSE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 5

FALL FROM A HORSE.

DEATH OF A MAORI

WAIHI, Wednesday. The adjourned inquest touching the death of the native named Mani Witikia, aged 47, who was found in an unconscious condition on the main "Tha-mes-Wailii road, near Hikutaia, on July 6, was held before the distinct coroner.

The evidence of Horn Boggs, a Maori, who was in deceased’s company on July 5, was that he and Witikia had taken considerable liquer in the Hilmtaia hotel during the afternoon ,and left for their homes on horseback later. At deceased’s request they .galloped their horses, and witness went to the front. After going some distance he saw Witikia’s riderless animal following him, and on going back he found his companion on the roadside. The latter, when requested to remount, and go on, said (ie was all right, and asked to be left where he was. Witness then went on. Other evidence showed that, next morning a farmer named John Miller found Witikia. on the roadside, almost frozen, hu ( t still breathing. Deceased .was taken to hospital, where he succumbed without, having regained consciousness. Medical evidence went, to show that Witikia had sustained a fracture at the hase of the skull, and that this had caused his death.

The coroner returned a verdict in ac cordance with the doctor’s statement.