BACKBLOCKS TRAGEDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 951, 19 April 1930, Page 6

BACKBLOCKS TRAGEDY

PARENTS LOSE LITTLE GIRL NO HELP AVAILABLE From Our Own Correspondent TAUMARUNUI, Thursday. A sad instance of the hardships of blackolocks life is reported from Otukou, near Tokaanu, where an infant girl died, despite all that her parents could do. No expert help was available, and the nearest doctors were at Taumarunui. Touching evidence came to light at the inquest, held at Taumarunui before the coroner, Mr. A. S. Laird. The child, Shirley Mabel Powell, aged seven months, was described by the mother as having been in good health till a few days ago, when she cut several teeth and later developed symptoms of serious illness. Mrs. Powell said the nearest telephone was 2„ miles away, and the nearest white neighbour two and a-half miles. During the night witness walked to the schoolhouse in an endeavour to obtain advice. The father, William George Powell, described the efforts made bv his wife and himself to ease the child’s sickness, but it had died in his wife’s al i m . s - No one near could give them advice. He had made arrangements to get medical aid the next morning. Dr. E. Vivian, of Taumarunui, giving technical evidence, concluded with the opinion that the infant’s death was due to influenzal congestion of the lungs. The coroner brought in a verdict to concur with the doctor’s opinion, and referred to the unfortunate fact that no medical aid was handy. The parents would have the sympathy of all mothers, and possibly the sad case would have a bearing on the construction of a telephone line to Tokaanu. He was sure the parents had done all they could for the child. • Sergeant C. Sivyer, for the police, was of the same opinion, and extended sympathy to the parents.