INQUEST AT PUNIHO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144856, 7 December 1915, Page 7

INQUEST AT PUNIHO.

ON AN OLD MAORI. PROM OCR OWN CORRSSPONDTTNTr. An inquest was held at Piiniho Pa on Monday by Sir. W. J. Gray, aetingooronor, to inquire into tbo death of a Native, To Wao Paki Paid, an old man, who was found last Sunday hanging by tho neck over the sea cliff at Piiniho, Several Native witnesses wore colled and tho evidence pointed to suicide, a verdict to that effect being decided upon by the jury, with tho addition that it was duo to a temporary stale of unsound mind. Tho deceased, an old Native over seventy years old, took part in the Maori wars, and up to tho time of his untimely end was obliged to walk with a stick owing to an old bullet wound in the hip. He lived a quiet life by himself, being frequently visited by Natives and pakehas, to whom he used to tell of his old fighting days. The present war seemed to bo a source of worry to him and probably had some effect in unhinging his mind. Ho was the oldest of tho Native men in tho district, who aro gradually dying out, and was one of the. typical Hau-hau fighters of.tho olden days. Constable D. .1. O’Neill, of Rahotn, conduct'd tho inquiry on behalf of-the police.