TE RAPA TRAGEDY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1926, Page 11

TE RAPA TRAGEDY.

HUSBAND’S CONFESSION. By Ttiflgrapfc—Praa* Association. . HAMILTON; March • 16.. Whi'e dying in the Waikjilu hospital, Peter Rawiri made a statement to the police, completely clearing up the mystery of the tragic explosion at Te Rapa on Tuesday. Ho admitted that he ;wns prompted by jealousy.’ He had deliberately blown up his wife, and cut his own throat. When the inquest on the dead woman, Ngapeti Koti'Rawiri, was resumed at the Courthouse this morning, Constab e Gavin gave evidence that he ■was on duty at the hospital on March 11, at 3 p.m., watching Rawiri. Suddenly deceased called him over and asked witness how his child was getting on. Witness replied; “All right,” an" asked deceased what had happened to his wife. Rawiri replied: “Oh! She very bad woman. She been with another man.” „ , ~ , Witness then asked how the exp osi ion occurred. ... , , ,„ ■, ; Deceased replied that he had pla ed two sticks of gelignite outside the whare, using some fuse. ! ‘‘You blow her up?” witness asked hl “Ycs/> replied Rawiri, who was qu’to rational at the time. The Coroner returned a verdict that the woman died as a result oi injuria w ’Falk- inflicted hv her hnsKnnd wi' 1 ’ the intent of causing lier death by means of an exp'osion of gchgniU. while in a fit of jealousy. Th© verdict on Bawiri. /was that -- committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor.