THE WAIKINO TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2651, 27 October 1923, Page 2

THE WAIKINO TRAGEDY.

SCHOOL BURNT TO GROUND. WHILE HOUSEHOLDERS DISCUSS ITS REMOVAL. Waihi, October 25. About 5.30 last night the Waikino schoolhouse, -at which the dreadful shooting tragedy occurred on Friday week, was burned to the ground. - A meeting of'Waikino householders was being held for the purpose of urging the Auckland Education Board to remove the building to a more central and suitable site, when a resident rushed in and announced that the building was burning. The meeting immediately broke up and those present proceeded to the scene of the fire, where they found nothing but smouldering embers. The police are now engaged in investigating the origin of the fire. For years past the parents of school children attending the Waikino school have complained of the distance of the building from the town, its comparative isolation and tax imposed on young children particularly in winter, in climbing a steep path to the hill on which it stands. With the terrible tragedy of last Friday, these complaints were revived, and it was intended to • ask the Auckland Education Board to remove the building to a more .central site.- Meanwhile the school was closed and was not to ho re-opened until after the end of the year. CONDITION OF VICTIMS. Mr Reid (the headmaster), Constable Olsen, and the boy Bustard, who were dangerously wounded by Higgins in the shooting tragedy at the Waikino school last Friday, are reported to be making fair progress. MR REID MAKES A STATEMENT. HIGGINS’ MOTIVE WAS RE- / VENGE. SAYS HE WAS PERSECUTED. Waihi, Last Night. Mr Robert Theodore'Reid, one of the victims of the tragedy at the Waikino public school -on Friday week, when two lads were shot dead in the schoolhouse and eight others wounded, made a statement at the Waihi hospital to-day. Mr Reid, who received a bullet through the “jaw, in his study, and lay in-a pool of his own blood tor over two hours, is still in a serious condition, but the anxiety to make a statement to get the awful business off bis mind induced the doctor to let him speak. Mr Reid looks ill and wasted. He experienced difficulty iu speaking, ami broke down several times during his heart-ren-ding narrative. He said the murderer, Higgins, entered the school at the back entrance and said: “T am here for revenge.” By bis strained expression, Mr Reid knew something was wrong, and he ushered the man into the study, where Higgins drew a revolver, made a gesture with it, ami repeated: “I am here for revenge?’ Mr Reid sought, to soothe him, and the man said: “They’ve persecuted me for fifteen years. One of my beasts is lying dead in the paddock now.” Mr Reid, at this stage recognised that the man meant desperate mischief. .Higgins proceeded : “The world lias misused me for fifteen years. I have done' with it. I have come here to die.” Mr Reid started to plead with him for the lives of the children, hut without, avail. With a revolver in • ■lie hand, and his watch hi the other, Higgins said: “I’ve given them more than I intended. I am wasting time. Those hounds from Waihi and from down below (meaning the Waihi Company’s battery) will have a string of men here who will wound me before I can finish the job.” Mr Reid, feeling himself desperate, walked np to him, put his hand on the man’s shoulder and said: “Higgins, .what about your son John and your wife.” He plied: “They must look after themselves,” Suddenly, after consulting his watch, Higgins jumped to the study door, keeping Mr Reid covered he said: “You are having them sneaked out while you are keeping me here.” Mr Reid walked up to him, and began to plead again for the lives of the children, and was leaning towards him slightly. Higgins then said: “You will have itp then tako it,” and fired, Mr Reid then crumpled up on the tloor, and a great rush of blood filled his nostrils and mouth. Later he fell into unconsciousness, and on regaining his senses he could hear Higgins ti amping around the class rooms, apparently looking for and shooting at the children.