STRANGE DEATHS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22183, 9 August 1935, Page 10

STRANGE DEATHS

TWO MAORI CHILDREN OTHERS IN HOSPITAL ILLNESS AFTER A MEAL PATHOLOGIST TO REPORT AN UNFORTUNATE FAMILY [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Thursday Mysterious circumstances surround the death at Tarukenga yesterday of a three-year-old Maori child, Nomea Pare Ngarenga Aorangi, and tho death in the hospital on tho same day of another child of the same family, Te Aorangi Henry Aorangi, aged four. At the same time two older sisters, Louie and Audrey Aorangi, wore admitted to hospital suffering from symptoms similar to those which apparently led to the death of the two younger children. The mother, Mrs. Grace Aorangi, aged 28, was also taken to hospital in a state of semi-collapse, whilo the father and the youngest member of the family, an infant girl, were already receiving treatment in the institution, the former in consequence of injuries sustained in a bush accident six weeks ago, and the latter as the . result of an illness that is not believed to have any connection with that of her older brothers and sisters. Post-mortem Examinations As a result of investigations, postmortem examinations of the bodies of the two children were conducted this morning by Dr. H. Bertram and specimens were forwarded to the Government pathologist in Auckland for a report. The Aorangi family resides at Mamaku, but a fortnight ago, as Mrs. Aorangi had been left alone as a result of the injury to her husband, she ! removed with her six children to Tarukenga, where she was living with a cousin, Mrs. W. Ryfle. Mrs. Ryfle went into Ngongotaha yesterday to do some shopping, leaving Mrs. Aorangi in charge of the house, with five of her own children and several other young children who are members of Mrs. Ityfle's family. Mrs. Aorangi's oldest child, a girl, was absent at school. Mother's Terrible Discovery When Mrs. Ryfle returned home about 11 a.m. she found the two youngest Aorangi children in bed suffering from what appeared to be acute digestive trouble, while the two older girls showed similar symptoms, although not to such an acute degree. Mrs. Aorangi was endeavouring to treat the children, but shortly afterward the younger, Pare, died. The two girls and the younger boy, Henry, were then taken to hospital, but the boy died ten minutes after admission. The two other children are still in tho institution, although their condition is not regarded as serious. Apparently all the children had a meal together in the morning, but it is stated that none of Mrs. Ryfle's children, who also partook of the food, showed any sign of illness. It is understood that the meal taken by the children consisted of bread and jam and maize. The circumstances are being investigated by Detective A. J. White, of Hamilton.