FIRE AT REEFTON.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1929, Page 2

FIRE AT REEFTON.

PEC DI JAR H APPENIN GS. (Grey Argus.) Hearing a house occupied by Mrs Forman, Boundary Street, Reed ton, was afire, Acting Sergeant J. Rodgers and Constable Hill visited the premises and 011 entering the door they discovered a mattress and sofa burning, some child’s clothing in a chest ol drawers being also ignited. The police officers extinguished the fire almost immediately. Their attention was then given to a child of about 3} years, who was in the room strapped to a chair. Ihe child was crying piteously and closer examination disclosed that it was badly burned and also had many bruises. Another child about five years of age had apparently received a severe thrashing as there were a series ol bruises on its hack. Three other young children, a girl of about 14, and a woman about 55 years 'of ago, were also in the house, NVh'en questioned by the police, the woman intimated that the child of 3.V years had set alight to the things The police left the premises about 4 p. 111., when the building appeared to he quite safe, but about 1 o’clock they received another call, and on entering the house it was found that the wallpaper in one of the bedrooms was ablaze, and some material in a pantry was smouldering. The hov was still strapped to the chair, and was then released by the Acting Sergeant, who found that the child was suflerum from severe burns about the lower part df his body. Later. Dr Coition attended the lad. and ordered his removal to the Reel'tou Hospital. XVlien questioned in regard to the matter, t.lO woman stated that she was not aware that the child was burned. • It was later deemed advisable to remove the other lour children from the house to the hospital. It is understood that the woman undertook to mind the cliildion. and that the 14-ear-old girl was em ployed by her as a domestic. Up to the present, no satisfactory explanation has boon given as to how the fires were started, or how the children received burns and bruises.