REMARKABLE DISAPPEARANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1570, 28 September 1905, Page 3

REMARKABLE DISAPPEARANCE.

OF A TAURANGA RESIDENT.

A most remarkable disappearance is reported from the Oropi settlement of a settler named H. F. Starmer, a baohelor,

living alone (writos the New Zealand Herald’s Tauranga correspondent). On Saturday, September 9th, Mr Starmer came to town as usual for provisions, and to transact his business. The next day ho oalled at the house of a neighbor for some maize. A week later Mr Blundoll, his nearest neighbor, not having seen him on Saturday as usual, went to his cottage to sea if he was all right. The door stood open, but no sign of the oooupaut was to be seen, and from the state of the provisions brought out on the previous Saturday, it was evident that he had not taken a meal in his own place since the previous Sunday. The country ronnd was traversed by searoh parties for several days, but up to Saturday (September 23) no sign of the missing man has been soon. Mr Starmer was subject to epilepsy, and it is thought that' whilst under the influence of an attack he may have wandered away, and may have fallen into the Waimapu river, whioh runs near his property. The maize obtained on September 10 was in the cottage, sbowiog that he was there on Sunday evening. Mr Starmer is a son of the Rev. H. H. Starmer, of Norwich, England, a prominent member of tho British and Foreign Bible Sooiety, and was a man of high culture. He was for Borne years engaged in journalißtio work in England, America, aad the colonies.