WAIKINS SCHOOL TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1923, Page 4

WAIKINS SCHOOL TRAGEDY.

mail HR PARTIC ULARS. AVAIL I, Oft. 20. Further particulars of the tragedy show that when the shooting was heard, [rum the township, just on hull' a mile away, battery workers and others sot out m the direction whence the shooting canto. They met the Hoeing children on route and wore acquainted with the terrible circumstances. On arrival at the school ground they saw Higgins standing at the window ot the master s room, flourishing a weapon. ••('nme on! ( mm: on!” eried Higgous. "I want to get you closer up for a shot. ’'

They were, however, unarmed and naturally declined the invitation. Some, however, started back for the township, where they got a son-ice rifle, a poa rifle and two or throe revolvers, with which they returned to the scene. In their absence Higgins fired several shuts, and although the bullets went unpleasantly dose no one was .struck. The AYnihi police were immediately telephoned. and Senior Sergeant O’Orady and Constable 11. -I. Olsen were conveyed to Waikino with all possible dispatch. Arriving at the school they manoeuvred their way round to the western side of the building and sought to make ail entry by the dormitory door, only to lie met with shots 'Yum Higgins, who swung round front the window at their approach. When the man again turned his attention to the crowd outside the Sergeant took a couple ot shots with a revolver at him from i; e I'aiilight- over the door, bur from Higgins’ crouching position behind a big bool, cupboard the shots failed to reach him although they went perilously e|(i,e. Authority having been given by inpolice to armed residents, rifles and revolvers were brought into action from seme distance hack from the window in the playground, but owing to the difficult angle shooting was ineffective. Higgins responded with his automatic without effect. Despite the fact that ii was clear that ihe man had ample ammunition the Sergeant and Constable entered by the dormitory door and dashed across to a

point ot comparative safety near the door of (he master's room, in which it may lie mentioned .Mr. Reid was still lying on the floor, within a. foot or two nf Higgins, in a pool of his own blond. Had lie not suflicient presence of mind to adopt this course he would certainly have been killed, as on an occasion when Higgins kicked him lie .Higgins) remarked ‘‘You're settled. Aon can do no more damage.' 1 From round the corner the .Sergeant called on his man to surrender, but Higgins continued shooting. Constable 01.-on then slopped forward to glance through a break made in the door by a bullet, when Higgins wheeled round and .-bui hint down. Isy this time Oollslnble Trn-k 1 ad arrived and joined the Sergeant, who had another shot or two at Higgins without result. At this stage either the man recognised the danger lie was in or had cool oil off. Being again called on to surrender the mail showed an inclination to parley and a lew minutes later hurled his weapon through the window. The police chanced whether the act was a ruse and burst open ilie door and made straight for their man. Higgins was knocked down and handcuffed, and removed to the police cells at AVaihi.

The dead children were conveyed in the Miners' Hall itt Waikino. and the injured were despatched in an ambulance to the Wailii Hospital for medical a t tent inn. MOTIYK OF CRIMP:. \Y A 111 r, Oct. 20. Rending the arrest of Higgins the police were at a loss in account for (lie crime, but the mystery appears to hav been solved by the discovery el a letter in Ids possession. This was from the Truant I*i-pacti,i the Auckland Education Hoard, and indicated tlnil Hint oflicial had .iu-L communicated with Higgins r.Tilivo to Ids failure to send certain i.f hi- children In school. The iiuin appears in have -cl out deliberately to commit the prime, as. in addition to an automatic revolver, he had with him a danger,ms lookin';' pig knife, three large plugs of gelignite, iowhich he had attached a detonator. The gelignite, fuse and detonator were linmd lying about in the headmaster's room, and had one of the bullets inch come into contact with the explosive, the head niast-r and Higgins would have been blown to pieces. Immediately alter hi- arrest Higgins was asked to aeenuul for the act, and although then rational and apparently ill his normal condition the man could only say that he did not know why he had dune it. Inquiries at the hospital to-night show that Reid, Olsen and the girl -M'Gurry, who were operated on, are in a dangerous condition. SCHOOLAI ASTER'S CONDITION CRITICAI.. [nv To.ucn.mir — putt iuikss association.| waiiii. o, t. an. Infuiric- during the forenoon show the cnndilniii of Reid, the schoolmaster, is critical, while the other victims of the Waikino tragedy, Constable Olsen and Kathleen Oars and the bov Bustard, are still dangerously ill. Higgins, who was charged with murder at the I’nliee Court this morning, presented a fit Ini demeanour and apparently was normal. He was remanded for eight days to Auckland gaol. Higgins is six loot high and poweD’ul ly built. He was a Canadian hack-1 woodsman and came to Knikino twenty years ago. lie built a Canadian log cabin in the busli in the neighbourhood of Waikino.