THE INQUEST.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11966, 20 June 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE INQUEST.

HEROISM OP A NATIVE. Jane 19. Gonstables Fitzsiinrnons and TonkiD, who proceeded to Whangarae on Monday morning in connection with the oil launch accident, which resulted in tbe drowning of three Maoris, returned to Nelson laiit evening. Their report of the occurence is that at 12.30 a.m. on Sunday eleven Maoris (whose names were published in yesterday's issue) left Whangarae in the oil launch Maata (owned by Hekenui) for the purpose of attending the Native Land Court in Nelson. When off Karaka Point, about three miles off Whangarae, and about six chains off land, Teieti Mokena (Teddy Morgan), who was in charge of the launch, noticed a leak in the feed pipe which leads from the benzine tank to the engine. He took a lantern, and with the assistance of Rene Kavppa, was binding it wifch canvas, when tbe canvas broke, and he accidentally knocked the lantern over. Immediately the bottom of the launch, where a quantity of benzine had soaked into the boards, burst into flames. Mokena rushed out of the engine room, slipped, and fell overboard; then four others. Wiki Tewhefcu, Apera Tewhetu, Mohi Tewhetu and Tangi Renata, eitber jumped or fell overboard. Teiete Mokena was saved by his wife, Hareata Mokena, throwing him a lifebuoy, which enabled him to get back to the launch. Apera Tewhetu and his wife.Wilri Tewhetu, appear to have swum together for some time, when the former asKed his wife not to lean too heavily on him She then let go altogether, and with a few more stiokes reached the rockfljbut she never saw her husband again. LJe must have sunk as soon aa she lot go. Wiki Tewhetu then ran three miles along the beacb, and alarmed the village. Mohi Tewhetu (seven years of age) and Tangi Renata (78 years of age) were also drowned, and up to the present the letter's body is, the only one that has been recovered. Remi Knrcpa had in the meantime been rU;bti eg the flames on tbe launch. Tie, with great presence of mind, blocked the doors of tbe engine room with wet blankets, and built a raft with the mast, boom, oars and sail. Then, with the help of Teiete Mokena, he managed to paddlo the launch ashcro wito one oar. The Police officers searched tip rocka and beacb near the scena of the accident yesterday morning, but could find uo trace of the missing bodies. An inquest was held on the body of Mrs Tangi Renata yesterday before Mr William Jamns Stuart, J. l\, and a jury of Maoris and Europeans, when a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. Tbe jury expressed thinv aduiiratbn at tbe presence of mind and courage dia piayod by Rene Karepa in his endeavors to extinguish the lire on the launch, and building a raft for the V/omen, ',