THE MAN ON THE ISLAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 286, 23 March 1877, Page 2

THE MAN ON THE ISLAND.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. The result of Constable Rait's visit to the Waitaki does not tend to throw much fresh light upon the matter of the appearance of the man on the island, or his mysterious disappearance therefrom when the search for him was made, although fresh grounds for surmises have been obtained. In fnct, the only thing that can be definitely said to have resulted from the constable's visit is the confirmation of the report published by us yesterday to the effect that a body had been found. When the constable reached Waitaki, he was shown the spot where the body was said to be lying, which was about a mile lower down the river than the place where the -man was reported to have been seen alive by Mr. Johnston some weeks ago. The river at the place indicated being fordable, the constable at once crossed it. Here lie FOUND THE BOBY floating about two feet below the surface of tjie water, in a kind of eddy off the main stream. The body was lying face downwards. When recovered, it was found to be greatly decomposed, and much swollen, but appeared to be that of a man about the middle size. It was clothed in a pair of dark trousers, a singlet, and a pair of elastic-side boots. The clothing was filled with sand and mud, so much so, in fact, that the constable found it necessary to wash a portion of the trousers before he could distinguish of what material they were made. Decomposition must have set in some time previously, the face being decayed to such an extent as to render it UNIDENTIFIABLE. The hair and whiskers were gone, and the body was in a very emaciated state. On being searched there was nothing in any of the pockets, neither was anything found near the place likely to lead to the unfortunate man's identification. No one seems to have any idea as to who the poor fellow is, as inquiries in all directions have failed to elicit the fact of any person being missing. It is just possible that he may turn out to be a swagger, but at present mystery surrounds the UNFORTUNATE MAN'S NAME. It is doubtful if that mystery will ever ba cleared away, and nothing further will probably be known as to who he is or where he came from. As we have said, the place where the body was found was about a mile below where a man was reported to have been seen on the island. It is just possible that the poor fellow may have attempted to swim ashore and met with his

DEATH BY DROWNING, and that his body was earned by the river to the place where it was eventually found. That the body discovered is tl at of the man seen on the island we have little doubt. How he came to be upon the island can only be a matter of conjecture, and half-a-dozen surmises may be made without hitting upon the right one ; and we will not, therefore, hazard an opinion. His disappearance therefrom is in some measure accounted for ; but all is wrapt in mystery. It is just possible that a further search upon the island where he was first seen ma}' result in something being found which will tend to lead a clearing up of the mystery, but we have little hope that such will be the case. Constable Rait left Oaniaru for Waimate again this afternoon, and we hope in to-morrow's issue to be able to give our readers some further information. We may add that on being recovered, the body was removed to Mrs. Fricker's Awamoko Hotel, where an inquest will be held to-morrow at noon. The names of the Maoris who first discovered the body are, we believe, Karawa and Bakaraki.