LITTLE LEFT OF HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 8

LITTLE LEFT OF HOUSE.

POUCE INFORMED AT 1 A.M.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") HAWERA, this day. The first intimation of the tragedy was received in town when Peter Waller came with a neighbour into Hawera about 1 o'clock this morning to report the matter to the police. About six o'clock this morning Sergeant Henry, with Constables Mullan and Thoraasen, went out to the scene. The charred remains of two bodies could be plainly seen amongst the blackened sheets of iron, which was practically all that was left of the cottage, and was mute evidence of the dreadful tragedy enacted in the night. Peter Waller, the brother, was the only one to see the house before it was consumed. He said he was living in a tent about a couple of chains away, down a little valley behind the house. He was awakened about midnight with the sound of crackling timber, end on looking out he saw the building was on fire. He dressed and rushed up, but by the time he reached the front of the cottage (the back had already been destroyed) the flames and smoke were so fierce that he was unable to get inside, and he saw no sign of life whatever. He tried the door handle, but it was red-hot and he could aot open the door.

Mr. Woodhead said he was over at Waller's about seven o'clock in the evening and was sitting with Alfred Waller in the kitchen near the stove. Three of the Waller children and Parnell were amusing themselves at the table, the two little ones having gone to ll* left shortly after. He saw the ■wine «t eleven o'clock and there was «iLiL ßh i ,°/ an y of lire. It was half-past twelve when Peter ov ® r to his house and KMtion am could offer no sug-. ■f to the origm of the fire.

One Body Close to Stove. When a "Star" reporter who went out with Sergeant Henry saw the scene of tho tragedy, nothing was left but a few sheets of iron, with smouldering embers round them. The remains of one body in the left-hand back bedroom could be seen, while in the kitchen opposite, lying near the stove, was a body with the skull leaning forward, as though the person had fallen to the floor towards the stove. The charred remains of one other body was to be seen, but that was aIL The rest of the evidence of the tragedy was concealed under the roofing iron. Mr. Waller explained that there was a small range in the right-hand corner of the kitchen, and a lean-to, an iron chimney outside against the back wall. He said that the father usually slept in the left-hand from room with Daphne, aged about six years, while .behind, in the back bedroom, were the two older girls, .Ruby, aged 13, and Ellen, aged 11. Xn the other front room were two one occupied by the two boys, Ray, aged 10, and Alfred, aged eight. In the other was Charles Parnell, a boy of about 13, employed by Mr. jValler. His parents live in Nolan town.

Waller was a man of 40 years of ajpe, with a family in all of eight. His wife was living in Hawera with two of the children, one a baby and the other about three years of age. Mr. Woodhead said that Alfred Waller did not always enjoy good health and it was a common practice for him to get up during the night and make himself a cup of tea and get something to eat. The position in the kitchen of one body, which appeared to be that of a man, would lead to the supposition that this had happened last night, but naturally there is no proof.