FATAL ACCIDENT AT PUKEKOHE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6004, 14 February 1881, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT AT PUKEKOHE.

I —o — A Coroner's inquest was held at the house of Mr. Woods, Pnkekohe, before Mr. Thomas Jackson, Coroner,, and a jury of thirteen, of whom Mr. George Russell was chosen foreman, upon the body of Mary Ann Steen, who died from the effects of burns received under the following circumstances :—On Thursday, the 10th inst., Mrs. Steen, about 11 a.m., had to go for water, to get which she would have to go about 20 chains from the house. At that time the deceased, a girl of four years and nine months old, was outside her father's house, putting on her pinafore. With her was her sister, aged three years, some distance off, and coming towards the house was the eldest boy. The fire in the house had been put out, and there was no fire either in or about the place. Mrs. Steen told the children to be good, that their brother would be with them directly, and left them. She had gone about ten chains from the house, when, hearing screams from the children, she turned, and saw the deceased running towards her, and her clothes smoking. She rushed up towards her, tore off her clothes, and on reaching the house wrapped her up in a flannel petticoat. She saw that she was badly burned about the body and legs, and put some oil and flour on the burns. Dr. Dalziel was sent for, and was speedily in attendance. The child died about midnight. She did not appear to suffer much. The cause of death was the bums and shook. The boy subsequently found a box of matches in the paddock in which the child was, and on examination the matches were found to have been taken away from the dresser, and the younger child said Nan was going to make a fire in the paddock. After hearing the evidence, the jury brought in a verdict of "Accidental death."—[Own Correspondent, February 12.]