MAORI CHILDREN

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1935, Page 7

MAORI CHILDREN

POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATHS. (Per press Association.; ROTuRUA, August 8. Unusual circumstances surround the death at Tarukenga j near Rotorua, ou Wednesday of a three-year-old Maori child, Pare Aorangi, and rhe death in the ,Rotorua Hospital on 'the same day of another child of the same family Henry Aorangi, aged four. At the same time two older sisters,, Audrey and Lovie Aorangi were admitted to hospital suffering from similar symptoms to those which apparently caused the death of the two younger children The Mrs Grace Aorangi, aged 28, was also taken to hospital in a state of semi-collapse 1 although it is understood that she was not affected in the same way as the children. The father was already in hospital after an accident, together with the youngest child of the family, who is suffering from illness which, it is understood, has no connexion with those of the elder brothers and sisters.

As a certificate of death could not be given a post mortem examination of the two dead children was con ducted by Dr. 11. Bertram to-day. During the time her husband was in .hospital Mrs. Aorangi, with six young children, was living with her cousin, Mrs W. Ryfle. Mrs Ryfle was absent' yesterday morning but when she returned she found the two young est Aorangi children in bed and Mrs Aorangi attending to them. The two older girls were alsx) ill, but the symptoms were not so acute as those

of the smaller children. Shortly after Mrs Ryfle arrived Pare Aorangi died, while Henry, who was removed to the hospital with his two sisters died 10 minutes after admission. A peculiar feature of the case is that the children allegedly shared a m*»ai during ?h t . morning with fh e children of Mrs Ryfle but the latter are nut affected by the illness in any way Th e police are investigating the circumstances.