By Policeman

Native Chief Murdered

At Mangaia, Ci

Mangaia, Cook Is., August 1

THE customary peace and quiet of Mangaia Island was shattered in the early morning of July 8 by the discovery in an empty hut at Kau mata Village of the body of Angareu Okirua, a chief of Veitatei District.

This is the first murder here for at least six decades.

The crime was eventually traced to one of the local policemen, Ata toa Tamarua, who was charged in

a local court con vened by Mr. Jus tice McCarthy who came from Raro tonga with Police Chief O’Halloran.

There was a jury of seven assessors, including one Eu ropean.

The trial occu pied two days.

The accused ad mitted that he had on the night of July 8, intervened in a bush-beer party, but that after having “taken names” he himself joined the party. He later left it with his victim, Angareu, and alone they drank in Atatoa’s house where they eventually quar relled. Atatoa al leged that Anga reu attacked him with a knife whereupon he threw him down upon the floor where his head struck a bedstead breaking his neck and killing him.

Atatoa said that

he had no intention of killing Angareu.

Evidence for the prosecution was mainly circumstantial, there were no witnesses and the only account available was accused’s own state ment. The jury found him guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years hard labour at Raro tonga prison.

Tahiti

Celebrates

Tahiti’s celebra tion for Bastille Day

(July 14) - which

lasts a week - were as exciting as ever this year. As shown here, ferris-whee's, merry - go - rounds, dancing and com petitions were popu lar. These photo graphs are from T.E.A.L. who flew tourists from NZ for the occasion.