Martin Family Killed in house fire in 1944

[ness123]

Hi i was wondering if anyone could help with finding any information about The Martin family who were living in Westport in 1944. i have been told that there was a house fire that 4 family members were killed. the husband's name was Elias and worked at Ngakawau mines.
This family also lost a child at the mines in 1909.
thankyou .

[Lucy2]

Hello ness

What a terribly sad story.   

From the NZ Death index :     Elias MARTIN was aged 63 (born circa 1881) and died 20 October 1944.

I can take a look at the newspapers for you (probably won't be until early next week though).

Lu

[Lucy2]

Hi again   

EDIT :  Information deleted - reference had been for another person of same name.

[alamar]

Hi ness

Noted on the BDM site that of the  Martins who had died in October of 1944, four of them had consecutive ref numbers. This would suggest these are the four you are looking for

1944/29853   Martin    Mona Mary    63Y   
1944/29854   Martin    Elias    63Y   
1944/29855   Martin    Esme Mona    34Y
1944/29852   Martin    Reginald Willfred    31Y

One imagines a coronial inquest was probably held and the record of this might be with National Archives, though the record of one was not immediately apparent on their website.

Cheers
Alan

[SueK50]

A search of the digitised newspapers at the National Library of Australia shows there was a story in The Argus (Melbourne) Saturday 21 October 1944, page 3. News 572 words

Unfortunately - it also says that the digitised record isn't available to view yet............


The newspaper issue containing this article has been digitised. It cannot yet be viewed. It is being quality assured to check it conforms to our specifications. It will be available in the next few weeks.
     
     
          ... by fire early this morning four members of the family were burned to death. They were Elias Martin,...

Sorry

Sue

[Lucy2]

Great work - well done Alan and Sue.   

Hi ness

Unfortunately NZ newspapers of this date, are not available online, but I feel sure that the National Library of New Zealand will be able to help you.

http://www.natlib.govt.nz/

[Go to >> National Newspaper Collection (at Alexander Turnbull Library) >> follow the prompts to "ask-a-librarian" ]

Lu

[ness123]

Thankyou to everyone, yes it is a terrible sad story. will keep searching until i find a newspaper clipping.  Mona Mary was my great grandfather's sister. so very interested to follow up story. Ness

[ness123]

still having no luck will keep searching. hopefully the news paper about the fire will soon be online. Ness

[Lucy2]

Hi Ness

Have you tried the National Library of New Zealand option which I mentioned earlier ?   

Lu