MYSTERIOUS DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 186, 10 August 1935, Page 10

MYSTERIOUS DEATH

TWO MAORI CHILDREN OLDER SISTERS ALSO ILL COLLAPSE OF THE MOTHER ( Per Press Association ) ROTORUA, Aug. 9. Unusual circumstances surround the death at Tarukenga, near Rotorua, on Wednesday, of a three-year-old Maori child. Pare Aorangi, and the death in the Rotorua Hospital the same day of another child of the same family, Henry Aorangi, aged four. At the same time two elder sisters, Audrey and Lovie Aorangi, were admitted to the hospital witfi similar ’symptoms to those of the illness that apparently caused the death of the two younger children. The mother, Mrs. Grace Aorangi, aged 28, was also taken to hospital, in a state of semicollapse, although it is understood she was not affected in the same way as the children. The father was already in the hospital as a result of an accident, together with the youngest child of the family, who is suffering from an illness that, it is understood, has tio connection with those of the elder brothers and sisters. As a certificate of death could not be given a post-mortem examination of tlie two children who died was conducted by Dr. H. Bertram to-day and the stomach contents were forwarded to Auckland for examination by a pathologist. During the time her husband was in hospital Airs, Aorangi, with six v;u:ig‘ children, was living with her cousin, Mrs. W. Ryfle. Mrs. Ryfle was absent yesterday morning, but when she returned she found the two youngest Aorangi children in bed a.id Mrs. Aorangi attending to them. The iwj older girls were also ill, but their symptoms were not so acute as those of the smaller children. Shortly after Mrs. Ryfle arrived Pare Aorangi died, and H»nry, who was removed to hospital with his two sisters, died ten minutes after admission. \ peculiar feature of the ca?e is that the children allegedly .-hire.’ a meal during the morning with th? children of Airs. Ryfle. but the latter are not affected by illness in any vay. The police are investigating the circumstances.