FAMILY PERISH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 180, 2 July 1931, Page 7

FAMILY PERISH

I fATHER AND FIVE CHILDREN. FIRE IN MAORI RA. SPECTATORS HELPLESS. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, July 2. | 'A Native, Rangi Mateliaerc, and five sj' children -were burned to death when a f whare took fire it Paparama Maori pa, j near Putaruru, last evening. ) Apparently the family retired to rest I early. The whare consisted merely of f. two rooms which were heated by emi bers in a kerosene tin. Some of Ihese ? are believed to have set a wall on fire ! and the roof collapsed and trapped the i family while asleep. I- The father apparently made desper- * ate efforts to save the young children I whose ages ranged from two to 12 i years, but was only successlul in plac- ;■ ing a girl of six through a window to Ksafety when ho was overcome by the g'smoko and flames. » The whare was built into a cutting jf in a bank and about ten chains from I the next dwelling in the pa. The rejf maining inhabitants were unaware ol i ! the holocaust until they were awakened | by the cries of the only survivor. There I was no water in the pa and they eonld then only stand by and watch the / flames consume the dwelling and the six souls within.