CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 118, 14 February 1944, Page 6

CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH

Fire In Maori House GALLANT RESCUE ATTEMPT BY BROTHER Dominion Special Service. WANGANUI, February 13. When a Maori house at Fdrikino ra ii»ht fire about l y miles up the \\ a caug ht fire, aoouu Satur(lay uight , two children^vere’burnt to death. The vicclniuicn wo Smith, an intant, ? n “ S Heeni S a girl aged about two. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. W y Smith, Parikino. Two other members of the family had a narrow escape from the burning building. The mother was absent from the home at the time of the tragedy and the iathei was out“f toe district With two elder members of the famfly, Joseph £>n»ith, a"ed 10, and Hinemoa Smith, aged about they were put to bed by their mother about 8 p.m. Some time later Josepn Smith was awakened by the roar of flames sweeping through the house. He roused the other children and dashed tor the baby, but was unable to rescue it in spite of a gallant attempt, "he elder girl also endeavoured to save the other child, but was unable to dp so because of smoke and heat. Spectators from a dance at the Parikino hall were powerless to assist because by the time their attention was attracted the house was a mass of flames.