SEVERELY BURNED

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 8

SEVERELY BURNED

DOCTOR’S BRAVADO. EPISODE AT TAHITI. (Per Press Association.—C’ouyrleht.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Following the example of Tahiti natives, who had walked barefooted across apparently white-hot coral with apparently no ill-effect or pain, Dr. H. S. Bnckland, who returned by the Maunganui yesterday to reside permanently in New Zealand after having been 20 years in England, was severly burned on the feet.

Oi the voyage from Tahiti to Wellington his foot started to heal, but tLev are still terrilby injured. .The (’odor expressed the opinion that there was something in the theory that some stones wore hotter than others, but said it was significant that no other natives than those of a family from Raiatea Island would attempt fire-walking. After the demonstration, he said several American tourists walked across the .fire-bed in their boots, and he decided to emulate the natives bv ♦ * walking barefooted. The leader of •the fire-walkers asked him to desist. Having got half-way across, Dr. Buckland had to jump to' one side, both his feet being burned ight though to the muscles.