STRANGE DEATHS.
MAORI CHILDREN. ACUTE BACTERIAL TROUBLE. ROTORUA, Sept. II A family tragedy which presented some unusual features had a sequel yesterday afternoon when the coroner, (Air W. L. Richards) conducted nil inquest touching the deaths of two Maori children, Parengarenga Aorangi" and Teaorangi Henry Teporia Aorangi, who died on August 7, one at Tarukenga and the other ten minutes after admission to the Rotorua Public Hospital. A post-mortem examination of the bodies failed to reveal- any cause of death, and it was accordingly decided to send the stomach contents and remains of food in the whare to Auckland, where examinations were carried out by the Government Analyst (Dr. T. At. Griffin) and by the pathologist at the Auckland Hosiiital, (Dr Gilmonr). Although no trace of any poison or any other factor likely to cause death was found. Dr Gilmonr, in a • report upon his investigations, stated that both children were suffering from acute bacterial infection, with, in one case, indications of dysentery. In his opinion death was due to this state of acute bacterial infection. The evidence given bv Airs Aorangi showed that eight children and three adults had been living in a two-roomed whare at Tarukenga. On the morning of August 6 two of the children and the owners of the lions© went to Ngongotaha. leaving witness in charge of the remainder of the children. In the morning they all had a meal of bread and butter and jam, but soon after this four members of witness’s family became ill and were put to bod. AVitness sat up all night nursing the children, but the two boys became worse. They complained of toothache and asked repeatedly for drinks. There was no telephone available with which to call u doctor or a. nurse. In .spite of witness s efforts the younger boy became steadily worse and died at 11 a.m. The coroner, in returning a verdict accordingly, paid a tribute to the painstaking manner in which the police had conducted their investigations.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 7
Word Count
333STRANGE DEATHS. Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 7
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