MAORI CHILD’S DEATH

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1786, 24 July 1926, Page 5

MAORI CHILD’S DEATH

FAITH-HEALING BY WATER AND PRAYER. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI, Friday. At the adjourned inquest on a female Maori child who died at Kaitepeka, the coroner returned a verdict that death was due to pulmonary affection, probably accelerated by improper food and lack of proper nuisA Maori woman named Terehia Takiura, who adopted the deceased child two months ago, said her husbanh hah some knowledge of native remedies and Avas often appealed to for advice by natives in time of sickness. None of the natives in the vicinity of W'aimiha was a folloAver of Ra-tana, hut they believed in Tohunganism to some extent. In many cases a 'Tohunga could cure sickness. Her husband treated deceased for whooping cough. He sprinkled Avater on its head and prayed ;to God to restore it. She believed in faith healing, and that was the reason AAdiy she did not call in 'a doctor. She avouUl act in a similar manner again. She Avas the grandmother of deceased. Thei coroner stated that he would inform the Departments of Justice and Health of the facts of the case.