EIGHT PEOPLE BURNED TO DEATH.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 September 1929, Page 6

EIGHT PEOPLE BURNED TO DEATH.

Terrible Tragedy Near Himitangi.

House a Death Trap With Only One Exit

Four Adults and Four Children Perish.

Neighbotir’s Discovery.

The tragic happening was first discovered *by a Maori shepherd named Kauri, employed by Mr W. Kenton, who is manager for the Barber estate. In a statement to the police, Kauri said that in the course of his duties as shepherd, he passed the cottage at about four o’clock on Friday afternoon, when everything appeared to be all right. lie had occasion again to pass the place at about ID o’clock on Saturday morning when he found that the cottage had been destroyed by fire. There was nobody about the premises and not suspecting that anything was amiss, he did not go near the ruins, but rode on.

When lie again passed the place at about noun, however, he noticed the cows all grouped about the milking shed, so ho rode over. There was still no sign of anybody about the place so he decided to ride across to Air Cadogan’s house, about a mile and a-half distant. There he inquired for Mr Wright, but as Air Cadogan had not seen him, they both rode back to the scene of the lire and it was only then, after viewing the ruins closely, that they realised a tragedy, had, occurred. The police were informed and Detective Russell (Palmerston North). Constables Owen and Well (Foxton) and Dr. Wyllic (Foxton) proceeded to the locality. They discovered the embers .■till smouldering. A search was commenced amongst the ruins and the charred hones of seven of the inmates were located.

Mr and Mrs Wright -were found lying in the wreckage of a double bod, while in the same room was discovered the remains of their infant daughter, lying in what had evidently been its cot. A hurricane * lamp was also found nearby.

Lying in a heap in what appeared to be the doorway of the next bedroom, fragments of bones of the other three children were located.

Inside the kitchen but close to his bedroom, were discovered the remains of Air Westlake. The position of the body was such as to lead one to believe that he had endeavoured to force his way out of the building before being overcome, or it may have been precipitated from the bedroom into the kitchen as the building collapsed. Eight Dead, Darkness then prevented further search, but yesterday, Inspector J. K. Simpson, Senior-Detective T. Quirke, Detective Russell ami Constable Owen returned to the scene to ascertain if the young man Thomson had also been a victim of the calamity.' It was his custom, it is stated, to sleep in an enclosure on the verandah. His charred bones wore located in the kitchen portion of the house. Only One Exit.

The Wright residence was a veritable death trap. Originally, it consisted of a two-roomed whare to which Mr Westlake had added lean-tos on one side and back. There was only one entrance and it is believed Mr Westlake, through nervousness, kept all the windows nailed down. From the verandah, one entered the

A farm house situated in the centre of a 10,000-acre block of land near Rangiotu and completely obscured from view by high sandhills which surround it, was the scene of an almost unparallelled tragedy early on Saturday morning, when a tire which demolished the structure, also took toll of the lives of its eight inhabitants. The dead are: — JOHN BROWN WESTLAKE, farmer, of Pahiatua, and owner of the property, aged about 67 years. THOMAS WRIGHT, sharcmilker, late of Rongotca, aged 47 years. CATHERINE MARY FRANCIS WRIGHT, his wife, aged 36 years. JOYCE WRIGHT, aged 11 years. BRYAN WRIGHT, .aged S years. ANNIE WRIGHT, aged 6 years. PRUDENCE WRIGHT, aged 3 years. SAMUEL EWART THOMSON, farm labourer, aged 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Thomson, of 221 Ruahino street, Palmerston North.

enveloped iu a very short space of time.

kitchen and access to the farthest bedroom, occupied by Mr and Airs Write was gained only by passing through the bathroom and the other two bedrooms. The three older children slept in the middle bedroom, and Mr Westlake in the Jirst.

The living room contained a Dover stove, with the iron flue passing through the wall. The dwelling was situated about 3£ miles, towards the Alanawatu river, from the main Palmerston North-FoxtOn highway and was approached only by means of a rough track over sand hills', across swamps and through scrub. It is only visible from the tops of the surrounding sand dunes and from the spot where twisted roofing iron now marks the scene of a ghastly tragedy, there is no sign of habitation. The ga/.e meets sandhills in every direction, the distant tops of the Tararua’s to the east and the sky above. The nearest neighbouring farmhouse is one and ahalf miles away.

Alelted portions of a separator and milk can that stood under the tank stand, testify to the intensity of the heat which made the cremation of the eight inmates of the home practically complete. What was left of their bodies could have been packed in a jiortmante.au. The piles of the building were even burnt below the level of the sand, while the glass of the windows was picked up in lumps into which it had been melted. A saddle and coat, belonging to Thomson, were the only personal belongings that escaped destruction. Air Westlake, who was a Justice of the Peace, was very well known in the Pahiatua district. Ho is survived by a wife, son and daughter, Airs Judd.

Mrs Wright was a daughter of Air W. Remnant, of To Awe Awe street, Palmerston North. She was married to Air Wright lit years ago, and tlnw went to live iu the Rongotea district, their farm being situated on Hickford’s road. Air Wright hailed from England and had no relatives in the Dominion. The family moved to Rangiotu two months ago and the two elder children wore pupils at the Rangiotu school. The late Samuel Ewart Thomson was 26 years of ago and a son of Air and Airs Alexander Thomson, of 221 Rualune street, Palmerston North. Ho was educated at the Terrace End school and worked in town for a period before accepting employuent with the Wrights at Rongotea and accompanied the family to Rangiotu. He last visited his parents just on two months ago, nothing having been heard from him since. They did not know whether he was still with the Wrights. A Complete Mystery. At present, it is impossible to form a theory as to the cause of the tragedy beyond the fact that the house was a death-trap and that the occupants, with the promptest of warnings, would proDabiy nave had difficulty m escaping from the flames, and with a strong westerly wind blowing at the time the house would be

some members who aro -willing to support the Government on general principles will bo inclined to favour letting the people determine its actual operation and to support Mr. Hughes’ amendment.

In that event, on the present count of heads, an equal vote is anticipated.

Mr. S. M. Bruce, in the course of his reply to the debate, said that ho trusted the disappearance of the Federal Arbitration Court would bring about a great number of voluntary agreements in Federal industries, the agreements being registered in each State, so that there would be a common rule.

The Prime Minister added that there had grown up a defiance and repudiation of the arbitration system by responsible Labour leaders. Violence and intimidation had been practised and a judge of the Court burnt in effigy.

Mr. Bruce said he felt the Bill would pace a way for placing industries on a basis never before seen in-Australia and reducing production costs, without, affecting living standards.