IN HUT FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20890, 23 August 1939, Page 8

IN HUT FIRE

The children were:— Tony Biddle, aged 9 years. Martin Biddle, aged 8 years. Ngaplne Biddle, aged 7 years. James Biddle, aged 6 years. Reremata Biddle, aged 5 years. Armstrong Biddle, aged 3 years. Reremata Biddle died on the way to hospital and the others shortly after admission. The settlement is situated close to the Tauranga River between Taupo and Tokaanu, and the family occupied two huts close to each other. The six children were in one of the huts but there was no window on the side of the parents’ hut facing the other building, and the lire was not discovered until the flames had broken through the walls. The inside of the hut was a raging inferno when the fire was discovered about 8 o’clock, and the children were extricated with great difficulty and ■rushed the 75 miles to the Taumarunui Hospital, arriving shortly after 1 a.m. The parents put the six children to bed in the hut and with their youngest infant went to spend the evening with neighbours. Another neighbour later discovered the hut in flames and called Mr and Mrs Biddle, and all present assisted to get the children out of the hut. The Taumarunui ambulance was sent for and the children were rushed to the Taumarunui Hospital.