A HORRIBLE DEATH.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2263, 8 December 1896, Page 3

A HORRIBLE DEATH.

..-. - -r -♦- ~ ' -.. ■•■. . (By : Tbi.e«baph.) GISBORNE, December 7. A partly demented Maori woman named Akeniha Keating, wife of a Euro pean, met with a horrible death at North Gisborne. Her husband said that he gave her her dinner on Saturday afternoon. He had to feed her as she was helpless, and when she sat or lay down he had to lift her up again. She had been in that state for the past tiro years, but had been worse for the last month. He then left for 'Habofne, and returning home at 5. o'clock missed her. He looked around and seeing smoke in an orchard, rushed down tfc^ere and found her lying on her Vpagk and the gl'asß ou fire all round her. She was dead lying in a dry trench a few inches deep. The grass was long and dry, and would barn very quickly, but he could not account for it taking fire. He supposed that she was smoking and threw a lighted match into the grass. She was in the habit of smoking, and was frequently in the orchard. She was about 65 years of age. A neighbour gave evidence that the grass was on- fire for an acre round her. Deceased was dreadfully burned on the left side and both arms, aud the hair was burnt off her hea.d. Her arms and legs were extended up both. sides of the trench, as if She had fallen from a distance into the trench in that attitude. The woman's mouth and nose were covered with blood. The clothing had not been burned belojy J.he waist. A verdict was rpttfrned of accidental death by burning. Ei^ut or ten years ago deceased's mother was burned to death within a few yards of the same spot by her whare catching fire.