Waiorogomai Parents Desert Their Offspring.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 34, 26 January 1884, Page 2

Waiorogomai Parents Desert Their Offspring.

A c\se of child desertion has occurred at Waiorongoniai, the details of which display most unnatural cruelty on the part of the natural guardians of the children. The patronymic of the three poor little Avaifs is Williams — their ages, eight, six, and four years. Ahout six months ago their father deserted them, but being heard of in Wellington the wife, who is only the stepmother of the children in question, caused a warrant to be issued for his apprehension. The man was arrested, but in consequence of representations made to the local authorities by Mrs Williams to the effect that her husband had promised to contribute to the support of herself and the children, the man was released. And now Mrs Williams has disappeared, taking with her two of her own children, and leaving the unfortunate step-children literally without support. Information being conveyed to Sergeant Emerson of the sad position of the little ones, he took them into his charge, and on Monday last they were committed to the Thames Orphanage by the Resident Magistrate. We trust that the authorities will not rest till this most flagrant breach of the law of humanity has been punished.