CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 February 1916, Page 2

CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH

INQUEST AT KAUKAPA

A*N" inquest was held on Thursdaylast at Kaukapakapa, before Mr B. T. Field, J,P., Acting-Coroner, touching the death of a child, Gwendoline Otto; aged 3 years, from soalds caused by capsizing of a bucket of hot water. From the evidence led by Constable Driscoll, of Helensville, it appeared that the child was a daughter of Mr Alfred Otto,' recently a land agent at Auckland, who had gone into the dairyingindustry at Kaukapakapa. The father's evidence was that between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., on Tuesday, he went into the kitqhen to get a bucket of hot water to clean the separator, He put thd bucketful of water on the floor, and while he was attending, to something else the child toddled into the room' and got between him and the bucket. Not knowing the child was there, Mr Otto turned round to pick up the bucket and knocked against the child, who fell down, and by the fall upset the bucket of scalding water over her arms, shoulders | and hips. First aid was at once "given, and Dr. Meinhold, of IJelensville, was summoned and arrived within an hour, but despite all care the child died at 1 p.m. the.foil owing day. After hearing the doctor's'evidence, the jury (Mr E. Leach, foreman) returned a verdict that death was due to accidental scalding, followed by shock. The jury added a rider, expressing deep sympathy with the parents, who were new arrivals in the district.