DISTURBING HEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 50, 4 July 1913, Page 5

DISTURBING HEWS.

CHICKEN-POX. EPIDEMIC AMONG THE MAORIS. [Per Press .Association.] Auckland, July 3. The outbreak of chickenpox which recently caused some concern at Mangere, is spreading among the Maoris Tn that district. Last week a native woman died there, and although the immediate cause of death was stated by Dr. Tressider to be syncope, the latter said that deceased had also suffered from chicken-pox. Several other Maoris were also known to be ill, and yesterday a Maori named Tarawai Honaua reported the death of a native named Maiki Kukumono to the police at Onehunga. As deceased had not been attended by a medical man, an inquest was held tins morning at the Com thouse at One hunga by Mr D. A. Sutherland (District Coroner). Tiro first witness called was Honana, who said that last Eiiday he found his cousin Kukumono very ill. Deceased was about 60 years of age. Deceased refused all offers of food dining that time, and gradually became worse. When witness called to see nim on Tuesday afternoon last, he was alive bat unconscious. Witness ttien went to see another Maori named Hoko Horo ,and when they returned to the hut a few minutes afterwards, they found Kukumono dead. Hoko Horo had visited deceased every day while the latter was iff, but the other Maoris were afraid to visit him. Deceased objected to having a doctor, and refused to go to the hospital. Dr. Harry' Tressider said that he saw the body of the deceased yesterday afternoon lying on the floor of a ttithv room in a hut, without any kind of furniture. The face and body were covered with confluent chickenpox o! a very virulent and malignant type. Deceased was in a filthy state, with revolting evidences of neglect. Witness was of opinion that death was the result of acute blood poisoning, brought on by chickenpox and his dirty neglected condition. The Coroner’s verdict was in accordance with the medical evidence.