FATAL FIRE AT TOIRO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 8

FATAL FIRE AT TOIRO.

FOUR CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH.

Information was received from Balclufcha on Sunday evening of a sad fatal fire about 5 on Sunday morning at Toiro by which four of the youngest children of Mr James Christie, farmer, lost their lives. The children, with a servant, slept in a small cottage of two rooms, the children occupyiny one room and the servant the other. Mr' and Mrs Christie slept in another house, ( a new one, soiao 300 or 400 yards djstanfc About 5 o'clock in the morning the servant was wakened by the smoke, and, finding the place on ilre, at once directed her attention to saving the children, the youngest of whom was only about three years of age, while the oldest was about eight. She caught up the youngest child, and was rushing out when the little thing jerked itself out of her arms. The servant girl had to rush out of the house herself, being almost suffocated by smoke, and the four little children were unfortunately burned to death. The fire is supposed to have originated in the vicinity of the range, but that is not quite cartain, nor itj anything known as to the cause of the outbreak. Needless to say, very -much sympathy is felt for the parents in their sudden and awful bereavement. The house and furniture were insured in the Royal, Insurance Company, but the amount cannot be ascertained.

The following appointments arc gazetted : — .Registrar of marriages, etc. — A. Jeffries, Cambridge; A. M. Beale, Waiapu; R. Landreth, Blueskin ; C. St. C. Harris, Kawakawa ; G. A. Empson,- Rotorua. Sub-inspector of Police, A. J. Mitchell.

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