A WAITANGURU TRAGEDY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 535, 22 January 1913, Page 5

A WAITANGURU TRAGEDY.

TWO CHILDREN FATALLY BURNED. IN ABSENCE OF PARENTS. Information concerning a sad occurrence at Waitanguru reached Te Kuiti on Sunday morning. It-appears that Mr Walter Jones, a settler at Waitanguru, who also a'cted as postmaster, had got up at a very early liour'to effect some repairs to his milking machine. Mr Jones shortly atferWards went out to assist her husband at the milking operations, leaving two young children, aged respectively two and a-half years and fifteen months, asleep in the bouse. When the parents returned they found the house enveloped in flames. Mrs Jones was first to return, and her screams drew Mr Jones to the scene of the tragedy, but all hope of effecting a rescue was past. The unfortunate mother had attempted to penetrate the flames, and was severely burned. The information was telephoned from Mairoa to Te Kuiti as soon as possible, and Dr Mcßae made a quick journey to Waitanguru. He attended to Mrs Jones' injuries, which are severe. ' THE INQUEST. On Monday the bodies of the children Were brought to Te Kuiti, and during the afternoon an inquest was held at the courthouse, before Mr J. Tammadge, acting-coroner, and a jury of four.

Evidence as to the occurrence Was given by Walter Jones, father of the victims. He stated that when the got up in. the morning, Mrs Jones remarked on the smell of something burning, but he assured his wife it must be the smell of the smouldering bush fire.

Mr Armstrong, a brother of Mrs Jones, gaye similar evidence. He said the eldest child was sleeping in the kitchen, and when the bodies were found this child was in the room where the baby was sleeping. The house was insured for £6O, and there was no insurance on the effects.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anyone. A rider was added expressing the deepest sympathy with the bereaved parents.