THE ORPHANAGE FIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15183, 8 March 1923, Page 5

THE ORPHANAGE FIRE.

YOUNG BOY'S BODY FOUND.

By Teiegraph.—Press Association, p AUCKLAND, Thursday.

The charred body of the boy, Ronald Morris,,whom it was feared had been bumed to death in the Are at St. Joseph'3 Orphanage,' Takapuna, early on Sunday morning, was found in the ruins of the building yesterday morning. The remains were unrecognisable. An inquest was held •, yesterday afternoon by Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M. "Constable McCarthy stated that he child, who was nine years of age and had been an innujte of the jnstjtutiop for two years, was reported missing on Tuesday flight. A search was made among.the debris at the place where had been sleeping and thprc the rem Sins were ftfund. The fire ocpurred a£;ij#out 12.45 a.m. : pn Sun- / day,' and splendid rescue work was f performed by the staff. From inquiries witness was of opinion tha,t no one was to blame for decea«ed not being rescued with all the other inmates. Deceased . was in the dormitory not far from where the Are originated, and was probably overcome by the "flames before the alarm was given. The 1 remains were found face downwards on the wire mattress, as if the child had turned over. He was not paralyse ed or otherwise helpless, and theife was no reason why he shou}d npt'hfVe come away with ihe others. Thc.ori-: gin of the Are, so far as could be known, was purely accidental. The coroner's finding was that deceased was accidentally burned to death in "the fjre thaj destroyed the drpharia'ge.