FATAL FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 7

FATAL FIRE

MAN'S BODY FOUHD

[Per United Press Association.]

TAURANGA. November 25. Tho site of the historic Gate la battle, on which now stands the tdlurch of England with a small hall adjoining, was tho scene of a tragedy early this morning, when the hall was totally destroyed by lire. An electrician and tho vicar of Tauranga, tho Rev. Mr Hall, who had been summoned to the sceno to investigate, discovered what they thought to be the body of a man in the embers. Constable Skinner was called, and found the trunk of a man with his arms, legs, and head burnt olf. Inquiries point to tho fact that the unfortunate man was a newcomer to tho district. A man named J. 0. Strath, aged about forty-four, came here with a mate named Brown from Hawke’s Bay about three weeks ago. Strath was not in a normal state of mind, and had an inclination to religious mania, and this may have led him to the hall. But what happened there is a complete mystery beyond the fact that the hall was burnt and a man, believed to be Strath, with it. _ It is understood that Strath has relatives in Hastings. ,