THE LATEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 5

THE LATEST.

Kekerangu, Apiil 1G. Up to the time of writing there are no tidings of further discovery of bodies. It is thought likely that many are buried in the sand. Mr Gerald Fitzgerald came along from Flaxbourne beach to-day, but found nothing except the Taiaroa's signal rack with one flag. He reports that the beach has been searched as far North as Cape without success. The passengers' luggage is floating I out of the holds of the steamer, but a bag bearing Mrs Fitzgerald's name, a box with [ "Miss Smith, passenger per Orient," and a i Hallelujah bonnet of the Salvation Army lass are about all that has been recovered.

The Inquest : All Sensational Rumours Disproved. Very little fresh came out at the 1 inquest, and you would seo the rumours supposed of foul play were very effectually disposed of. After the evidenco was concluded the coroner summed up, and said it was perfectly clear there were no suspicious circumstances attending the death of any of them. In ordor that all the facts might be boforo the jury, ho had thought it right to collect the fullest evidonce obtainablo regarding the wreck. The jury instantly returned a verdict of "Found drowned." The coroner issued certificates for the burial of the bodies and thanked the jury for their attendance.

A Fearful Experience. McQuarters, one of the eurvivors> must have had a terrible oxporience that awful night on the soa with the dead and dying around him. He is still in a very weak state, and exceedingly nervous, finding great difficulty in getting sleep. Ho and Grant will probably leavo to-morrow morning, travelling by easy stages to Wellington. It Avill be seon from his evidence that he thinks he was eleven hours on the sea. I am inclin3d to the opinion that when he was thrown ashore he became insensiblo for an hour or two,*as from his statement to me he must have been in the vicinity of the spot where he landed very soon after daylight on Monday morning. All accounts agree as to the splendid behaviour of the lady passengers. Up to the time they woro suddenly thrown into wntor they were calm and collected, and altogether bore themselves bravely