TRAGEDY AT TAWA FLAT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 218, 15 June 1925, Page 8

TRAGEDY AT TAWA FLAT

CHILD BURNED TO DEATH TWO OTHERS HAVE NARROW ESCAPE News was received by the police last evening to the effect that a child was burnt to death at Tawa Flat during the mother's absence on Saturday night. Two other children were rescued from the flames by neighbours, but the charred remains of the little victim were not discovered until yesterday morning. At about 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, Airs. Bailey, a widow with four children, who resides at Tawa Flat, left her home to visit Wellington. She took the youngest child with her, leaving the others, aged 3,4, and 5 years, in the house.' It is understood that there was a fire in the range at the time, and all appears to have gone well until about 8 p.m., when it was discovered that the house was in flames. Alilton Alexted, a youth who lived close by, was the first to rush to the scene, and found that there were human beings within the burning building. With considerable difficulty he made his way into the house, which by this time was a mass of flames, and found two children asleep. He succeeded in rescuing the boy, and Air. Staples, who had then arrived, managed to save the little girl. The third child could not be seen, and the neighbours thought that the mother had also taken it to town with her. The charred remains of the little victim were discovered in the smouldering ashes yesterday morning by Constable O’Donnell. From the position where the body was found, it would appear that the child had attempted to escape, but was probably suffocated by the smoke. The full. details of the tragedy were not available at a late hour last night, as telephonic communication with Tawa Flat was suspended owing to a break in the telegraph lines. An inquest will be held.