KAIMATA TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 104, 25 September 1914, Page 4

KAIMATA TRAGEDY.

HELEN -SMITH'S PETITION. . j t Wellington, Thursday. - As tlie result of the murder of hei husband, Helen Smith, of New Plymouth, recently petitioned Parliament for a compensation allowance. The circumstances may be recalled. A settlei named Virgin had exchanged fait farm for one owned by another settler named Junian, and Smith, who was in the employ of a carrying iirrn, had carted Julian's household effects to Virgin's old place, and was sleeping there for tha night, before carting Virgin's effects to hi« new farm. In the night, however, Virgin set fire to the house, Smith, Julian, and another losing their lives, whil« Virgin committed suicide, leaving an estate valued at about £20,000. Smith's widow was left practically penniless, wit'li a young family, while under the exists ing law she was unable to obtain an* monetary redress from Virgin's estate. 1 The Public Petitions Committee, ii recommending the petition to the favor-' able consideration of the Government, added the following:—"That in view oi th« facts placed before this Committed in connection with this petition, th« Committee strongly recommends that th» law he amended in the direction of providing that in future any person or persons similarly placed can claim compensation against the estate."

The House adopted the report without discussion.—Hawera Star correspondent,