TRAGEDY AT ROTORUA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21977, 12 June 1933, Page 8

TRAGEDY AT ROTORUA

WOMAN FATALLY BURNED (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, June 11. A tragedy occurred at Rotorua shortly before 1 o’clock on Saturday morning, when Ivv Florence Munro, aged 39, wife of Mr F. T. Munro, confectioner, suffered burns which resulted in her death in hospital a few hours later. Shortly after midnight Mr Munro heard what sounded like a slight explosion. Tins was followed by screams, and on looking into the yard Mr Munro saw flames issuing from the fowlhouse at the foot of the section. He ran down the path and was horrified to find his wife enveloped in flames. There was a strong smell of benzine. Mr Munro immediately procured sacks and extinguished the flames. He then went for assistance, and with a neighbour carried Mrs Munro into the house. In the meantime a doctor had been summoned and the woman v\as immediately taken to King George V Hospital, but her injuries were too severe to admit of her recovery. An inquest was opened on Saturday by the district coroner and the evidence of the husband was taken. It was stated that the deceased had nursed her mother through a six weeks’ illness, and had been greatly affected by her death. Since then she had suffered a serious breakdown in health, and her nerves were in a bad state. The coroner commented on the devotion Mrs Munro had entertained towards her mother and the effect her mother’s death had had. The inquest was adjourned sine die.