MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

Evening Star, Issue 4043, 10 February 1876, Page 3

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

Within -the last six months it h&k been our duty to chronicle as many as three sudden disappearances of men belongings to this district,"in two, at least, of which, there is no room to doubt an untimely death—namely, in the cases of Ben Nash and Robert Inglis. We regret to' say that' another has to be added t6 the list. Mr G. B. Bond, of the Empire Hotel, Cardfona, was well known \ throughout this and the neighboring district. : He was one of the first residents on the Wakatipu goldfield, for many years at Arthur's -Point, and lately at Cardrona. Latterly he appears to have given way to inebriation, and it was while suffering from the after-effects of drink that death overtook him. The particulars are as follows i— Bond came down to the Cromwell hospital on the 2nd-instant, and remained in that institution till the sth, ■when he left without"' the consent oi the Resident Surgeon; He went to Good:ger's hotel, and there appeared to'be im ; proving in health and spirits. On Sunday In was about towa and conversed rationallj enough with several residents. Bond retim . ,to rest about twelve o'clock p.m., and thei appeared to bo all right.' ■ Shortly after ojn ™* sleeping in the jiamc room named_Burke7 was awoke by Bond t'ettint &■• up; > He put on hia.trousers and coat, ant get out of this, anyway.* H< * •: !^£SJb^i2J i ' I fe? w i :°pW the 1 window; "lmri,^j^d |^di heV%u rousec

Mr Goodger. They went together in search of Bond, but could find no trace of him. Information was given the police, and Sergeant M'Gann, with others, at once instituted a search along the river bank with lanterns, but without result. ! It may be mentioned that from the back of Gopdger's hotel a steep and broken bank runs down to the river. The foot of this bank is strewn with broken bottles and rubbish. On examining the bank yesterday, Constable Bell found traces of fresh blood from where the broken glass lies right down to the edge of the river. The blood is spattered in spots, as though from a cut, and the supposition is that Bond' either cut his naked feet running down the bank, or.was injured in rolling down. It is. almost hoping against hope to think he did not go down the bank, as the police have made inquiries at all the outlets from the town without any information respecting the missing man. It may, therefore, be concluded he : got into the river, and has been carried down, as the current runs strong, being hear'the' confluence of the Kawarau and Clutha.—'Cromwell Argus.'