BURNED TO DEATH

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2960, 10 November 1925, Page 2

BURNED TO DEATH

TRAGEDY AT NATIVE SETTLEMENT. LIVES 01' FIVE CHILDREN LOST. Auckland, November 9. Five Maori children, three girls and two boys, were burned to death last night at Awarua in the Mangakahia district, near Ivaiohe. It appears that their father, Wi Tara, at the time was away conducting a Mormon service at Kaniti, in a neighbouring district, and their mother had left the children under care of a girl aged ten years, while with two elder children she attended an evening service in the Mormon Church about a mile away. The mother cautioned the children as she left them to go to bed. A neighbour who passed the house shortly after the mother had left saw two of the children outside the house. The other children were playing inside. Some time between 8 and 8.30 o’clock a Maori who was attending the Mormon service had occasion to go outside for a drink of water, and to his horror saw (lames leaping above'-the enclosure of wattle trees that surrounded Wi Tara’s house. He immediately alarmed the congregation and dashed across-coun-Iry with the rest of the Natives to the scene of the (ire. They found I he building entirely destroyed, only the chimney standing among flaming and smoking ruins.

A search failed to reveal any of !he children, and as soon as the rod-hot roofing iron could bo handled an effort was made to find their bodies. The remains of the three youngest were found close together where their bed had been, and the remains of the oldest boy, at the spot where his Led had stood. The eldest girl's remains were found a couple of yards from where her bed had been. Apparently the four youngest were suffocated in their sleep, while the eldest was overcome as she was endeavouring to escape from the flames. Constable Clausen, with Mr. T. Guerin, J.P., proceeded to the scene of the tragedy. The mother, who alone could afford any information, was in such a state of collapse that the inquest was adjourned for a fortnight.