THE KAIMATA TRAGEDY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 33, 25 September 1914, Page 2

THE KAIMATA TRAGEDY.

HELEN SMITH'S PETITION. The Wellington correspondent of the Haw era Star writes:—As the result of the murder of her husband, Helen Smith, of New Plymouth, recently petitioned Parliament for a compensation allowance. The circumstances may be recalled. A settler named Virgin had exchanged his farm for one owned., by another settler named Julian, add Smith, who was i:i the employ of a carrying firm, had carted Julian's household effects to Virgin's old place, and was sleeping there for the night, before carting Virgin's effects to his new farm. In the night, however, Virgin sot fire to the house, Smith, Julian, t.nd another losing their lives, while Virgin committed suicide, leaving an estate valued at about £20,000. Smith's widow was left practically penniless, with a young family, while under tho existing law she was unable to obtain any monetary redress from Virgin's estate.

i The Public Petitions Committee, „jn recommending the petition to the favorable consideration of tho Government, added the following:—"That in view of the facts placed before this Committee in connection with this petition, the Committee strongly recommends that the law bo amended .in the d-rection of providing that in future any person or persons similarly placed can claim compensation against", tho estate."

The House adopted the report without discussion.