NATIVE GIRL’S SUICIDE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2763, 18 March 1910, Page 4

NATIVE GIRL’S SUICIDE.

details of the inquest.

Details were received yesterday of the evidence taken at the inquest on the native girl, Ivy Pamare, who committed suicide at Tekapane, near Tologa Bay. on Sunday last. Robert Walker, a half-cap te, gave evi_ dence that deceased had' on the pre : vious morning (13th) asked him to go for a walk. He went, with her up the side of the hill. They passed her uncle and aunt on the Avay. Deceased’s aunt called out, “Ivy, where are you going ?”Decease d made no reply. They went to the top of the hill, and sat down for about twenty minutes. They never spoke during that time. Witness asked deceased to come home and have some dinner. She did not reply, but turned down the hill with him. At the foot of the hill witness again asked deceased to go home for dinner, but she replied with an oath, and told him to “go ahead,” hitting him on the back with a stfek. Witness left her and returned home. He told deceased’s aunt that she (deceased) would not come home, and the aunt - (Amy Sydney) went out to look for her. This was about noon Subsequently the aunt called to him, and he went up the hill, finding the aunt and TVillie &vd.noy with deceased, who was lying on her back, with a handkerchief alongside her that had ben torn off her throat. He had heard deceased had a sweetheart, but could give no reason that she should take her life. Amy Svdney, wife of Wiliam Sydney, stated that deceased had been staying with, her for about three weeks. The morning in QUBStion doc*?a.sed ewitisu to be ill good spirits. When proceeding to a camp in the bush with her husband she fwitness) saw deceased on the hill top with Walker, and calling out, asked her where she was going. Deceased replied she was going to “New Zealand.” There was nothing more said. After dinner Walker returned and told her (witness) she had better go for deceased, Bii r - would not come for him. Together with her husband they searched for an hour, and eventually found deceased sitting in some manuka. As soon as her husband touched her deceased fell back. It was then seen deceased had a handkerchief round her neck, and they at once tore this off. A not was found about eight feet way, and. translated, it read as follows: “Poor mama. Farewell to the people. Never mind me. Do not have sympathy for me. lam all right. lam going in good spirit. There is much pain and sorrow within me. Ido not know whether you will see me again or not. Farewell "to all, joy, love to all.” About a week prior deceased told her that a native had caused lier trouble, and would not marry her. Wiliam Sydney, a half-caste laborer, uncle of deceased, in the course of corroborative evidence, stated that blood was coming from deceased’s mouth, ears, and nose when he discovered her. Deceased had told him that a native named Raroa was her boy, but she bad never hinted she would take her life. Karaka Waru, Grandfather of deceas. eel, said the girl appeared to be in indifferent spirits. She had told him that Raroa Pupipuhi had exchanged greenstones with her (signifying they had become engaged). He was quite satisfied with the arrangement, which was that RaToa was to wait until his (witness's) return from Waiapu to make her his wife. Raroa. Puhipuhi. a resident or Puke, tawai, stated lie had known deceased about three weeks. They became engaged for a- term of two years. There was no truth in the statement he had been on too familiar terms with deceased nor had he refused to marry her. He could give no reason why deceased should take her life. They parted on good terms the last time they met, and he had given deceased no cause to be jealous by going out with another girl. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came to her death by tying a handkerchief tightly round her neck, thereby causing strangulation.