CHILD’S DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1943, Page 2

CHILD’S DEATH

MAKORA ROAD TRAGEDY FIRE IN SHED. NO INDICATION OF CAUSE. A verdict that Norma Aim Hansen, aged three years, died from burns accidentally received, was returned by the District Coroner, Mr L. J. laylor, at an inquest held in Masterton yesterday afternoon, following a fire tragedy in Makora Road on Monday afternoon. Mr Taylor added that there was no indication as to the cause of the outbreak of fire. ' Mrs A. G. Hansen, mother of the child, said her children were in the habit of playing in the shed. On Monday afternoon her two other children were at school, and her child Norma was playing in the backyard while she was working in the house. She had missed the child for about fifteen minutes when she heard a crackling noise, and on going outside she found the shed at the back of the house on fire. She went to the shed and called for the child, but received no answer. She searched around the house, but could not find the child. The fire brigade was called. She always kept matches away from the children, and had not missed any.

Aircraftman Raymond J. Laurence said that at about 3.15 o’clock he noticed flames and smoke coming from a shed. He and a friend ran across to the shed, but could not see any trace of the child in the shed on account of the flames and the smoke. Part of the shed collapsed, nad he could see portion of the child’s body. The heat and flames prevented the removal of the body. Deputy - Superintendent Norman Bruce, of the Masterton Fire Brigade, said the brigade turned out promptly in response to a call to the corner of Kuripuni Street and Makora Road. A small shed, about 20 feet by 20 feet, was well ablaze, and the south-west half had collapsed. He was told on arrival at the fire that a child was in the shed. The fire was soon put out, and in shifting some roofing iron he found the child’s body. The body was at the extreme end of the shed. Constable A. W. Nalder stated that he found the charred body of a child in the shed.

In reply to the Coroner, Constable Nalder said he was satisfied that the body was that of Norma Hansen. He could not find any cause for the outbreak.

Dr. Archer Hosking also gave evidence.