SAWMILLER’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1929, Page 2

SAWMILLER’S DEATH

BODY FOUND IN BUSH.

(Grey Star)

Pathetic circumstances surrounded the death of Mr Anders Bark Larsen, managing director and principal shareholder in Kumara Timbers, Ltd. whose body was discovered by a search party, early on Thursday morning, lying in the bush near Stillwater, heart failure being the apparent caues of death. While death came to Mr Lartsen, alone in the bush, his wife waited for him to rejoin her on the main road. Leaving Greymouth on Wednesday at 11.20 a.m. in his car, accompanied by his wife, Mr Larsen set out for a place just beyond Stillwater, near the site of the old Spring Creek sawmill. He left Mrs Larsen at Mr T. Harper’s mill, near the main road. His intention was to inspect some white pine bush, with a view to deciding whether it was sufficient to warrant the installation of a sawmill. He arranged with Mrs Larsen to-meet her at 2.30 p.m. at the Arnold River bridge, on the main road. She waited there in the car until 3 p.m. and then became anxious at the non-appearance of her husband, who was very punctual as a rule. She got into telephonic communication with her son, Mr Eric Larsen, at Greymouth, and it was decided that she should wait another three-quarters of an hour,. and then ring again if Mr Larsen did not arrive. He did not do so, and Mrs Larsen then informed Mr T. Harper, who went into the bush to look for the missing man. Mrs Larsen again communicated with her son, who, in turn communicated with Mr J. M. Bunt, who set out in his car for Stillwater, acsompanied by Mr Larsen, junr. - On their arrival, Mr Larsen was still missing. - x

Mr Harper had meanwhile returned, his search being unsuccessful. Mr Larsen, junr. then took his mother home to Greymouth, while Mr Bunt drove Messrs Harper and T. Galligan, who' .works a silver pine area near Mr Harper’s mill, to the place where the ifiissing man had enured the bush and they commenced a further esarch. Mr Bunt then drove to Stillwater, and requested Mr W. Adams, an experienced busl man, and Mr Wallace, hotel-keeper, to arrange for a search party. There was no lack of volunteers, and the' party left for the spot where Mr Larsen had entered the bush, on the Stillwater-Ngaliere road. The seachers included Messrs T. ,Croft and son, and Southorn. • Meanwhile, Mr Bunt went to Messrs Newman and O’Neill’s mill, on the Moana road, and another search party was quickly organised, Messrs Newman and O’Neill and three other men entering the, bush from the Moana side;; The parties were unsuccessful, however, and left the bush, about 10.30 p.m., without finding Mr Larsen, although they discovered some footprints believed to have been made by hinj.

After discussion, Messrs Adams, Smithers, Curtis, and Gamble volunteerd to make another search, and they were motored to the place of entry by Messrs O. Randle, manager of the Greymouth-Hokitika Sawmillers’ Co-operative Association, and Mr E. Larsen. Mr Bunt returned to Greymouth to report progress to Mrs Larsen. . '

About four o’clock this Thursday morning, news was received that the search had discovered the body of Mr Larsen, lying in the bush, and that t\yo members of the party, were remaining with it until daylight, when it was brought out and transported to Greymouth.

The late Mr Larsen, who was a native of Sweden, resided in Winnie St., Greymouth, and was 58 yeans of age. He had been on the West Coast about seven years, arriving from the Dannevirke district, where he was located forabout 30 years. He resided at Hokitika, Ross and Kumara before coming to Greymouth, about four years ago. Deceased was a member of the Greymouth Bowling Club. In addition to his widow, the late Mr Larsen leaves two sons and one daughter, Miss Vine Larsen, all of Greymouth.