BIRTH ON TRAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22774, 7 July 1937, Page 12

BIRTH ON TRAIN

MAOBI WOMAN'S CHILD MOTHER RETURNING HOME BRIEF DELAYS TO EXPRESS A baby was born to a Maori woman in the guard's van of the New Ply-mouth-Auckland express near Ohura early yesterday morning. The woman was on her way back to Otorohanga with her husband, after attending a tangi at Hawera, and the child was born shortly before the train reached Tuumarunui.

The express was stopped when it was reported to the crew that the birth was expected, and the woman was transferred from a carriage to the guard's van, Railway officials at Taumarunui had been advised that a passenger oil the train was ill, and a stretcher was waiting when the station was reached. The journey to Auckland was resumed after a delay of 15 minutes at Taumarunui.

Under the watchful eye of the father, who expressed thankfulness that both mother and child were safe, the stretcher was removed from the %an at Otorohanga at four o'clock in the morning. The woman and her baby were provided with more suitable accommodation.

As a result of the delays, the express, which was due to reach Auckland at seven o'clock yesterday morning, was about 40 minutes late.