House Of Death

A terrible tragedy overtook a Maori family at Manutuke early last month, when Mr Tom Te Kaumarua Kouka, aged 26, a bridge construction worker, and his four children, Freda (aged 5), Patricia, (4), Tony (3), and George (3 months) died in the flames as their newly-built house was destroyed by fire. Mrs Kouka was absent at the time, about 11 p.m.

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A section of the aluminium roof of the house, melted by the great heat, and a wire mattress eaten through by the fierce flames.

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A general view of the ruins after the fire.