TE KOPURU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4128, 5 February 1875, Page 3

TE KOPURU.

IjEATH KHOM IlltOWNIM;. !■ An inquest was held at Tu Kopuru oil the ' 20th ultimo, before T. S. Webb, Ksq., ! • coroner, on the body of a man found near c Sail I'oint, below To Kopuru, a day or two ' previous. One of the witnesses who saw the 1 body found, deposed that he saw a boot f under the cliff, ami was struck at seeing a 1 good boot in such a place. IJ <"y; j '.4a.'n'<' T' { Witth'tile boot came'away with a human foot 1 in it. On a further search, they found the 1 body of a man partly covered with mud ami 1 sand, in a good state of preservation. After • examining it, theyburiedit. A coat, supposed <■ to belong to the dead man, was also found t about forty feet from the body. Information ■' was sent to the coroner, who caused the ' body to be at once exhumed and brought tu 1 the Kopuru, the sons of Mr. Webb doin;; ' various disagreeable offices which lio ono else would do. Other witnesses identified the ' body by the boots and clothes as being that of a man named William Williams, a car- ' penter, lately working at the Kopuru, who ' was last seen at that place on the first > Sunday in September of last year. He was also ] seen to leave Tokatoka on the eveniii" of the I same day in a small punt. It was also proved i the man had been drinking, but he appeared < capable of rowing. About an hour after ' Williams had left Tokatoka liis punt was found bottom upwards near the Kopuru. Williams was never again seen in life. After 1 a short delibe.ation the jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally drowned." Doubtless he was mother victim sacrificed to drink. Xext week I will "'end you a report of the meeting of the Kopuru School Committee ; also, full particulars of the inquest on the lire at Marriner's store.—[Correspondent, February 2.]