A BUSH MYSTERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2463, 5 August 1922, Page 3

A BUSH MYSTERY.

DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS. On Wednesday Constable Greggan visited the second line of ridges of the Tararuas and brought out the remains of the skeleton discovered there on Monday by Mr P. Hassall (says the Chronicle). The remains were, found in a piece of virgin hush in a valley through which a stream was running. From a piece of rising ground a tree shot out almost parallel with the earth, and under this the unknown had constructed a rude shelter by the use of ferns, which, however, had fallen into decay. The skeleton indicated that the man, when alive, must have stood nearly 6ft high. A careful search was made for any traces by which identification could be established. Only a fragment of clothing was found, together with a pair of pegged boots, size 8, which had very little wear. A pocket knife, pocket book, silver-mounted pipe with portion of the stem missing were also discovered. The inner leaves of the book, however, were reduced to pulp, and nothing could be learned from that. Among the debris a number of coins .were found, consisting of seven halfcrowns, one two-shilling piece, and two pennies. One of the halfcrowns is dated 1916, and one of the pennies 1915, which indicates that death must have taken place at a much more recent date than was supposed, and points to the man having gone into the bush within the last five years. As he was not destitute, as evidenced by the possession of nearly £1 in money, and as it is unlikely lie was lost in that locality, the matter offers scope for inquiry, upon which the local police are now engaged. As far as the poliee know, no one was reported missing in Ibis district within tbe last five or six years.