A DEATH TRAP

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1933, Page 6

A DEATH TRAP

ROTORUA POOLS. (Per Press Assor.iationr— Copyright .) ROTORUA, June 29. Strong comments regarding the danger of the unfenced hot pools ,at the .Maoris Pas, ;a.nd the- necessity of providing safeguards by .fencing were made by the Coroner, Mr W. L, Richards, at the inquest to-day into the death of a three-year-old Maori child, Richard iShipw-ith, who died following a . fall into a hot pool at Ngapuna Pa on June 20th. In returning a Verdict of death from shock .at* the result of ficalds and suffocation, the Coroner said lie had visited the pool in question the morning after the fatality, and j|t appealed to him to be a veritable death trap. It was used to tho natives for washing, and he had been informed that tivo othe r children had recently fallen into- it, but had fortunately been rescued in time. It varied in temperature, and was very slippery around the edges, where the native woman had been washing. There was an obligation upon those living in the Pas to protect the small children ,by fencing in theise dangerous pools. He w.as glad to eay that this particular pool had been filled m since the tragedy.