The Papavai Mystery.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1835, 21 May 1886, Page 3

The Papavai Mystery.

In our last w« reported the .-eveiv burning of I’aiuratVauu awlh (<jr Waterhouse as he was cab-ill, a native, at I'upawai. There ap()eat- to be miiiic in commotion withthc altair, .-ome being of the opinion thatl’aiura wa.- visited on Monday night in hs tent and dealt a blowwhile aslcej), thoigb there is not the slightest evidence is yet to prove it. Dr Hev visited I’aiura' tent on Wednesday and examined the njuries. The iW-t'ir informs Us that then av severe burns on the back of the neck ~vl left side of tile head; and between he shoulders, extending a considerable distance down the back, he is roasted ihnost to a cinder. There are also burns lowu the left side, with patches of bundle on Itoth thighs. Around the loins and xteudiug down to the legs he is deeply burned. I n answer t<) a question Dr Hey sail he could give no opinion as to how the man could have been so burned. He was a strong and robust man and showed no predispisition to fits.

That I’aiura was perfectly sober when he left Ross's house ; tha: he did not complain of being at all unwell; that he was not subject to fits and that he was a strong man to all appearance in the best of health, has led to the suspicion among some that there has been foul play ; that he was struck a violent blow upon the back of the head while asleep and was then dragged to the tire and his head ami shoulders laid across to hide all traces of the blow by burning. A hammer was found in the tent the next morning with blood upon it and u[»n the folding door of the tent there are finger-marks of blood. There were two fires—one burning outside and a smaller one burning inside tie tent, but it is not known over whch I’aiura received the injuries by burn’ug. He must have been undressed for his trousers are not burned; his shit is almost consumed and his canvas shoes partly so. His blankets are not singed, and when found on Saturday mrrning he was wrapped up in them. Vhen first questioned he would not give any satisfaction—did not know anything about the fire; said he was not buried. He ai>peared to have no recollection of falling down in a fit or of walking about the whare the night before. He is even insensible to pain. Beyond some little-dispute about some land there does not aiqxiar to be any reason to sus|H*ct foul play. At the same time the way by which I’aiura came loins injury is rathe" mysterious. It maybe that in placing his fire for the night, and while st or ping he became giddy and fell over it, but even this theory is not at all satisfactory.

Yesterday afternoon Or Spratt, coroner for the district, accompanied by Mr Freeth, licensed native interpreter. and Constable Eccleton and a representative of this journal, drove down to I'apawai. As I’aiiira's life is despaired of it was deemed necessary to take Ins depositions. He was in a comfortable whare and tenderly nursed by his daughter and neice. His age app-ai> to be about -do. He was quite conscious and gave his statement willingly. It was a.- follow- : —" (do not know what lias hapjiened to me. All 1 know about it Las been told me by my daughter, I remember going to bed mt Monday night; I was not ill or confused ; I had no refreshments in the tent. 1 had not been drinking; any spirit.- that day. No one that I know came to the tent that night. I do not remember whether 1 took my clothes oil'. 1 did not go to the fire or do anything at it; I do not know who lit the fire. Do not know that I have been burin. I don’t know whether I shall die. I am a stranger here. I have no accusation to make again.-t anyone. 1 can believe everything my daughter tell- me." tnich was the statement, and when it w a-read over to him he managed to rise from a hint; position and make Lis mark at the foot. He appears to remember 110110110, to know nothing about Li- mishap, and so Li.burning is involved m mystery. There is not a shadow of i ircumstantial evidence to lead to the supposition that I’aiura was maltreated.