Fatal Burning Accident.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 July 1915, Page 3

Fatal Burning Accident.

« AT THE OHAU SCHOOL. An inquiry into the cause of tho death of a little Maori girl, Katie Roha nehipeihana, eleven years old, was nolu at Kukn at the hpitfse of Roha Yvehipeihana, father of the child, yesterday morning, by Mr W. C. Nation, coroner. After hearing the evidence a verdict of "accidental death caused by Burning,'' was returned. Roha Wepiheihana deposetl: law a dSriy farmer residing at Kuku. Katio •\vas my daughter. She was born on Ist January, 1901. She attended the Oliau school. On Friday,^ July 10, lUlo, she left for school as usual. About 11 o'clock I received word that sne had met' with an accident at school. I went there and found that Katie had been burned. Dr Bryson 'was at school when £ got there, and he suggested that Katie should go to the Otaki hospital, and ho took her there in his motor car. On Sunday, 18th, I received word that she was very ill, I had been to the hospital the day before and she said she was getting along all right. On Sunday I went to tho hospital and the nurso told me that Katie would not live. I asked if I could take her home and the nurse said the doctor would have to decide. She rang up the doctor, and then told mo that if I would take the risk 1 could take her homo. 1 had a motor car there so we got her and brought her home to my house at Kuku. She seemed alright when we got home. Sho did not say much, but was quite conscious. We put her to bed and made her comfortable. She suffered much during the night. About 3 o'clock on the morning of Monday she grew worse and at j quartor past seven alio began to sink, and at half-past seven she died. She did not say much towards the end. I thought if she was home with us she would pick up, instead of being amongst strangers. That is why I brought her home.

William Henry Joseph Huthwaite: 1 am a medical practitioner in charge of the Otaki hospital. Katie Wehipeihana 'was admitted to the Otaki hospital on Friday l(ith. about midday. I found that she was suffering from extensive burns which, though not deep, involved a large extent of the surface of the body. Nearly all the back was burned, together with tlie

shoulders and portions 01, both arms. The child was also suffering a good deal from shock. Oil the Sunday she appeared much worse, and the matron sent a message to the father informing lam of the fact, die came to the liospftal and wished to remove the child. The matron informed me of this by telephone, and 1 instructed her to urge him not to remove the child; if he did so it would be at his own risk. The romuval might accelerate death. The case, however, was a bad one. and there was a likelihood of the child dying under any circumstances. l'lie burns were consistent -with the clothes catching lire.

To Mr G. M. Henderson, headmaster at the Oliau school; The condition ;1 the child was very low, ami the father was informed that it was possible the child would die on the wav home.

Elsie Hurrell; 1 am assistant school teacher at the Ohau school. 1 know the child Katie Wehipeihana. She was in Standard 111, and was eleven years of age. On Friday. l(3th inst.. 1 went in to Mr Henderson's room and dismissed the children ,it being playtime—about 11 o'clock. There -were several girls standing round the fire when I went in. One of them asked il they could remain there during playtime. I said no, and they went outside. I returned to my own room and two or three minutes later a girl named Whau Taliuri came running to me and said "Katie Rolia is burning!" I wont out and found Katie rushing across the playground with her clothing on fire. '[ ran after her and tr>od to smother the fire by pressing her against mysolf, receiving some burns to my han(lis by so doing. A rug wa.v got and put round her, and she van taken into the school. Dr Bryson -was sent for and 1 he attended her at the school. Before the doctor arrived I applied oil to the burns and did what [ could to alleviate the pain. Dr Bryson took the child to Otaki in hV car, There is a lire place in my room and there is a fire guard fot pn«tectiou. I cannot say if there an.? a guard before the lire in Mr lieuderoil's room. We burn 'wood it tlio mjliouJ The children from Stnudmi 111 upward are located m -Mr Ht;:-Jim-sou's room, and are old enough to know tlio danger of getting too close to a firo. That same morning Miss Thomson, the other teacher in my room, laid occasion to caution Katie to keep away from the lire in my room. \\ lieu I caught the child in tlio playground she only cried and said sliw was hurt.

Wahui Taliuri: My age is ten years and Igo to the Ohau school. 1 knew Katie Koha. She wa<s in the same class as myself. Last Friday morning, about II o'clock, Miss Hurrell dismissed the children lor playtime. She told us that no girls were to. stay 'n front of the lire, and we went outside. Katie, myself, and some other girls went back: and stood in iront of the lire, because we felt cold. Katie had her back to the lire and her clothes caugnt. She ran off out«ide and 1 ran to Mi3s Hurrell and told her. Theivj wa-s ho pushing of each other when Katie's dret-s caught.

George McDonald Hendenson, sworn--1 am head teacher at the Ohau school. There is a fire-guard in my room. The wires are very close and keep the heat in, anil to get the best heat the guard is set aside. The youngest- child in the room is 91 years old. In my experience fire guards are only used in infant rooms, I have never, objected to the children using the fire in cold or inclement weather. The child Katie Rolia was scantily clad, and this may account for her going to the firo.