A MYSTERY SOLVED.

Otaki Mail, 12 January 1920, Page 4

A MYSTERY SOLVED.

APTER MANY DAYS.

The mystery surrounding the death of Mr William Samson Collier, of Eketahuna (father of Mr J'. Collier, for years a resident of Te. Horo, now living at Rnngalnua), who disappeared some twenty-three ycais ago, !?as at last been solved. Tiie interesting particulars regarding this interesting case are. briefly, as follow.-;:

Twenty-three years ago Mr Collier, jun., who was at. that time residing at Eongokaka. near Eketahuna, went away on a holiday, leaving his father, who was between (i(J ami 70 \ ears of age, in charge of 'lie home.„j v ■.: ,nal time until v, i, v. nays ago the wherenH>uts of tin' father has been a mystery, though at the time a search-party was organised and the bush country of the district scoured intermittently for weeks, without success. A fendays ago a resilient- of Kongokaka discovered a hoof in the open bush on the top of the ridge on Mr Hughnn's property between Kongokaka and Putara. and on further investigating, the skeleton of a man was found. The sequel to the ancient tragedy was enacted before Mr .T. D. Wilson in (he Coroner's Court at Eketahuna a few days ago, when the skeleton remains were proved to be those of the missing man. William Samson Collier. A verdict of "death from exposure and starvation through losing his way in the bush" was pronounced. The remains were identified by means , of a pocket knife and boots found with ; the skeleton. A remarkable thing about the whole affair was the wonderful state of preservation of a hat which was found with the remains. It was little the worse for its exposure to the vigorous climatic conditions of 23 long years. The remains were interred at Eketahuna.