DUNEDIN QUADRUPLETS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 8 March 1935, Page 7

DUNEDIN QUADRUPLETS

FOUR BABIES CHRISTENED. HIGH INDIVIDUAL WEIGHTS. (By xeTegrapn- Ttobs Association.} .DUNEDIN, March 7. The Johnson quadruplets were christened this morning by Father Halley. The' names bestowed were Bruce, Mary, Kathleen and Vera.

The odds against the birth of quadruplets are 757,000 to one, with infinitely greater odds against all being horn alive. The total -weight of the quadruplets is 171 b. 70z., which is 41b. 7oz. more than the famous Canadian quintuplets. Despite the fact that the births are more than six weeks premature the individual weights are greater than for many single premature babies. The father is employed at the corporation gasworks. Ho knew of the treat in store a tortniglit ago, when X-ray photographs revealed four little spinal columns. Mrs Johnson has been specially attended by Professor Dawson, -who stated that the delivery was a normal one and that the babies are absolutely sound. Prematurity was invariable with multiple births, which were most common in Ireland, Russia and Spain, ho said.

Tt is' understood that in the family of Mrs Johnson’s mother there have been several twin births, but Professor Dawson does not think that hereditary influence has played a part, the occurrence being an unaccountable abnormality.

The father of the quadruplets is aged 34 and the mother 33.

PREVIOUS INSTANCE AT HAMILTON. NAME OF FAMILY UNKNOWN. WELLINGTON, March 7. It was reported at the Wellington registrar-general’s office to-day that there had been one previous instance in New Zealand of the birth of quadruplets. This was at Hamilton in 1919. The name of the family and whether the children are still living are not known.