TRAGEDY IN NORTH

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 6

TRAGEDY IN NORTH

CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH

FIVE YOUNG MAORIS PERISH.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 9. Five Maori children, three girls and two boys, were burned to death last night at Awarua, In the Mangakahia district, near Kaikolie. It appears that their father, Wi Tara, at the time was away conducting a Mormon service at Kawiti, in a neighbouring district. Their mother had left the . children under the care of a girl aged ten years, while with two elder children she attended the evening service in the Mormon Church, about a mile away. The mother cautioned the» children as she left to go to bed. A neighbour who passed the house shortly after the mother had left saw two of the children laughing and playing outside the house. The other children were playing inside. Some time between 8 and 8.30 o’clock a Maori who was attending the Mormon service had occasion to go outside for a drink of water and to liis horror saw flames leaping above the enclosure of wattle trees that surrounded Wi Tara’s house.

He immediately gave the alarm to the congregation and dashed' across country with the rest of the natives to the scene of the fire. They found the building to bo entirely destroyed, only the chimney standing among flaming and smoking ruins. A search failed to reveal any of the children, and as soon as the redhot roofing iron could be handled an effort was made to find their bodies.

The remains of the three youngest were found close together where their bed had been, and the remains of the oldest boy at a spot where his bed had stood. The eldest girl’s remains were found a couple of yards from where her bed had been.

Apparently the youngest four were suffocated in their sleep, while the eldest was overcome as she was endeavouring to escape from the flames. Constable Clausen, with Mr T. Guerin, J.P., proceeded to the scene of the tragedy. The mother, who alone could afford any information, was in such a state of collapse that tho inquest was adjourned for a fortnight.