GIRL DISAPPEARED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1921, Page 2

GIRL DISAPPEARED

Myra Muirhead, aged 1(5, daughter of Mr and Mrs Geo. Muirhead, of Palmerston Street, Cobden, left her home about S o’clock yesterday morning, says the Grey “Star,” to go for a swim in the ‘Cobden Lagoon. As she did not return inquiries were institued, with the result that the girl’s clothes were found on the bank of the lagoon. It was feared that she bad been drowned, and dragging operations were conducted by the police. Circumstances disclosed later suggested that the girl was m, in the lagoon, but that she was a passenger on the Otira express that morning. The Railway Department state that a girl answering to Miss Muirhead’s description, boarded the train just before it left Greymouth. The police are making inquiries to ascertain what clothes are missing from her home. FURTHER DETAILS. At a late hour last night, the mystery remained unsolved. The police wired Christchurch, but the girl was not found on the express, while her relatives bad seen nothing of her. It was expected that the C o' den man, who made up the deficiency in her fare would return that evening, but he did not do so, and up till midnight the police had been unable to get into touch with him, so that they, with others, are quite in the dark in the matter. One Greymouth resident who has interested liimself in the case is of the opinion that dragging operations were not systematically carried out, and with proper methods it would be easily possible to have located the body, providing that the. pH '■

drowned. However, in the face of the rumours it seems more than likely that the girl did not go swimming. This is the first occasion she has done so this season, and one cannot imagine a person suddenly deciding to do so while the weather is inclined to be cold. The uncertainty and strain must be causing the parents great anxiety, and the sympathy of all will go out to them in their tribulation, while it is the universal hope that rumours of her untimely end will be dispelled,