THE DROWNING AT KOPU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15262, 28 March 1913, Page 5

THE DROWNING AT KOPU.

INQUEST ON THE BODY FOUND.

TBY TBEBOBAPH—OWN OOBBESPONDZNT.] Thames, Thursday. An inquest was held this morning on the body of Robert Jason Aro, who was drowned in the Thames River on Saturday night. •

The evidence given was to the effect that the, party, consisting of four brothers Aro, Mrs. Peter Aro, Mrs. W. J. Aro, Alfred Tookey, and a boy named Wm. Gray, left Shortland Wharf for Turua at about halfpast nine o'clock on Saturday night. They proceeded up the Thames River to a point about , half a mile above Kopn, when the benzine in the tank became exhausted. William John Aro.. who was in charge of the boat, then proceeded to refill the tank, and while he was doing so his brother Peter-'held a lamp to enable him to see. During the process of filling the tank the benzine in the tin suddenly caught fire.

Mrs. W. J. Aro, in the excitement of the moment, jumped overboard, and being a good swimmer struck out for this shore, which, was no great distance away. While doing so, Mrs. Aro called out to her brother-in-law, Robert Jason Aro, to come on, and he then jumped over into the river, and struck out to reach her. The flames were quickly subdued, after which the tank was refilled, and tho launch proceeded to search for the two who were in the water, and the occupants continued calling out to them, but could not get any reply. Eventually the search was abandoned, as it was evident they had been carried down by the strong current and drowned.

No sign of the bodies was seen until yesterday morning, when the master of the river steamer Koroi discovered the body of R. J. Azo floating in the river between Matatoki and Puriri, some distance higher up than where the accident occurred. The body was .conveyed to Thames by the police. A verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. The body of the woman has not yet been recovered.