FATAL FIRE

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1640, 12 May 1925, Page 5

FATAL FIRE

KORAKONUI HOME DESTROYED.

LITTLE CHILD FATALLY BURNED

News reached Te Awamutu yesterday of a distressing occurrence at Korakonui early that morning, by which the home of Mr T. H. Wyllie was completely destroyed by fire and his infant child, aged about 18 months perished in the flames. Though details were not readily obtainable, we gather that Mr Wyllie had come into Te Awamutu en route to'Hamilton to oßtain some implements, etc., for the farm. Mrs Wyllie undertook to milk the small dairy herd and while performing this operation she left the small family of four children in the house. The youngest was securely strapped in its cot, but the other three went down to the milking shed. After some time they were sent back to the house, but before arrival there they set up the alarm that the house was ablaze. Nothing could be done and the house was completely destroyed, the little child perishing in the flames while the distracted mother battled unsuccessfully to get to it. Neighbours were attracted to the scene, but' when they arrived the building was little more than a heap of embers. The Te Awamutu police were informed and Mr Wyllie recalled from Hamilton. Constable Mahoney, of Kihikihi, proceeded to the scene, and after searching among the debris located the charred remains of the unfortunate child. The affair cast quite a gloom over the district, and much sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs Wyllie in their double adversity. An inquest will be held to-day.

It is understood that a fire was •left burning pending Mrs Wyllie's return from milking, and it is presumed the outbreak originated from embers, dropping from the grate.