BOY KILLED IN FIRE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 10

BOY KILLED IN FIRE

ROOMS BEHIND SHOP DAMAGED

(New Zealand Press Association) MASTERTON, August 28. A six-year-old boy died as a result of a fire in the living quarters at the rear of a baker’s shop in Featherston early this morning. The child was Kevin John Rabbltts, a son of Mr and Mrs Sidney Babbitts, occupiers of the premises. The parents, according to the police, were attending a dance at the time of the fire. Mr Rabbitts’s brother, Mr Stanley Rabbitts, was working at his restaurant premises, adjoining the bakery, and he gave the alarm at 1.30 a.m.

The Featherston Fire Brigade was quickly on the scene and the brigade superintendent (Mr W. J. Boston) brought out the child from his bed. Dr. S. G. Fraser, Dr. T. A. Roberts, and Dr. C. D. Banks attempted to revive the child. The child was taken to the Grey town Hospital, but was found to be dead.

The rear portion of the livingquarters and a kitchen were badly damaged, but three bedrooms and the shop premises were only slightly damaged by smoke. Two other children of Mr and Mrs Rabbitts were staying with friends for the night.

YOUTH FATALLY INJURED

CAR SOMERSAULTS (New Zealand Preu Association) TAURANGA, August 28. A youth died in the Tauranga Public Hospital this morning after suffering head injuries in an accident at Te Puke last night. He was Barry Shearer, aged 17, of Te Puke. He was a passenger in a car which capsized about 9 pm. yesterday on a country road near Te Puke. The car turned over two or three times before coming to rest, but two young men who were also in the vehicle escaped with only superficial injuries. Shearer was rushed to* the Tauranga PubliC Hospital, where he was admitted at 10.30 p.m. He failed to recover consciousness.

GIRL KILLED

THROWN FROM HORSE ON TO ROAD (New Zealand Pr«„ Association) AUCKLAND, August 29. A 12-year-old girl was killed about 2 p.m. today when the horse she was riding shied at traffic and threw her on the Great South road, about two miles south of Rangiriri. She was Dorothy. Ann Caddlck, whose parents, Mr and Mrs P. W. Caddlck, live at Rangiriri. ’

YOUNG MAN KILLED

ATTEMPT TO BOARD MOVING TRAIN (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, August 29. A man was killed instantly when J 1 ® slipped between two carriages of the 5.30 p.m. Port Chalmers passenger train as it was leaving Port Chalmers station on Saturday. He was William Sooles, aged 21, of Belle Vue place, Port Chalmers.

Mr Scoles ran beside the train as it pulled from the station platform across the road crossing towards the tunnel The train had moved about 40 yards, and was gathering speed. The guard saw Mr Scoles slip between the carriages, and immediately signalled the driver to stop.

CYCLIST INJURED

A cyclist, Gerald McEwen Duncan, was knocked from his cycle in a collision with a car yesterday at the corner of Tuam street and Manchester street. He suffered concussion and cuts about the face, and was admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital at 12.45 a.m. His condition was reported to be improving last evening.