BODY FOUND IN THE WAIHOU.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 160, 28 August 1886, Page 2

BODY FOUND IN THE WAIHOU.

On Sunday afternoon last information was brought to Sergeant Emerson, Te Aroha, that the body of a man, had, in the forenoon, been taken out of the Waihou river, near Mr Hanmer's residence, Manawaru, Te Aroha West. Sergeant Emerson at once proceeded to the spot, and had the body conveyed to the Palace Hotel, to await an inquest. The body was that of a powerfully built man, of about sft Sin or 9in, about 40 years of age, dark complexion, full dark beard and whiskers, bald scalp, and had apparently been in the water at least a couple of weeks. The Police made all possible enquiries, but were unable to obtain any clue to the man*s identity until the day of the inquest, when ft local resident identified the remains, as will appear by the evidence in our report of

THE INQUEST. The inquest was held on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. in the Court House by Win. Haddow, Esq., J.P^ of Nelson (a visitor at present staying at Te Aroha for the benefit of the baths), acting for the Coroner. The following jury were sworn :—: — James Warren (Foreman), J. A. Dobson, Thos. Wood, C. S. Pyne, A. A. Smith, N. Cleary. The Jury and witnesses first viewed the body, after which the first witness examined was — Mark Bemrose, who was sworn, stated as follows : 1 am a gardiner, residing at Shaftesbury. About 10 o'clock last Sunday morning I saw the corpse floating down the Waihou river close to Shaftesbury. AMr Morgan and myself followed it down the river, and, making a short cut, got down to Mr Hanmer's, and obtaining assistance and a boat we got the body out. The body I have viewed to-day is the same. I have no knowledge of its identity. There was a fresh in the river for some days 'past. I should suppose from appear- !

ances that deceased had been dead about a fortnight. The body when got out of river was placed on a door and the matter reported to the Police. Martin Morgan, sworn : I am a labourer, residing at Shaftesbury. On Sunday last about 10 a.m. my attention was called to a body in the Waihou river, and in company wibh Mr Bemrose I went down the bank of the river, to get a boat to get it on shore, leaving two others to keep the corpse in view. It is quite possible the body might have am in. some creek until floated out by the present fresh in the river, caused by recent heavy rains. The rest of this witness' statements merely corroborated . that previously given. Edward Finlay, sworn : I am a labourer, and residing at Te Aroha. I snw deceased to-day, and I recognise the body as that of Arthur Webster, when alive. I last saw him alive about six weeks' ago in Te Aroha ; he was then staying in a little one-room cottage below Warren's Hotel. He came to Te Aroha on the Friday and went away, I believe, on the Tuesday following. Ho was a very intimate friend of mine. He told me he was on his way to the Thames to see his father, who is a carpenter and builder living there. I have never since seen him alive. Deceased's mother keeps a boarding-house in Upper Queen Btreet, Auckland. His father and mother do not live together. He han two brothers, but no sisters. One brother named Richard Webster is married and lives in Auckland in Edwin street, Newton ; the other is single and lives at the Thames. lam quite certain the body is that of the person I refer to. Deceased was rather eccentric. He was a general handy man, and worked wherever he could find employment. He was very temperate in his habits. (The Police here showed witness various articles found on tie body). I recognise the pocket-knife, and the spool of cotton produce'! as belonging to deceased. Deceased was 35 years of age. When here he was carrying a swag and told me ho had last been working in Waikato. I have met the deceased in the middle of the seventy- mile bush, Ha./ke's Bay Province, by himself. His swag was made up in a bag, tied w.th flax. Ho had on a light tweed sac coat, soft felt hat, moleskin trousers, lace-up watertight boots. I cannot say how he came to have gone up country. Wm. Emerson, sworn : I am a Sergeant of Police, stationed at Te Aroha. From information received about one 0 clock on Sunday last, I proceeded to Mr Hanmer's place, Te Aroha West, and there found the body of deceased lying on a stretcher on the bank of the Wailiou river opposite Mr Hanmer's dwelling-house. I searched the body and found a 2s piece, and Is, a reel of cotton, pocket knife, match-box, pipe, sharpening stone, some thread wound on a stick, and a ring. I examined the body as well as I then could, but found no marks of violence on it. I had the body conveyed to Warren's Palace Hotel, Te Aroha. On Monday morning, in conjunction with Constable White, I stripped the holy and carefully examined it to see if there were any marks of violence discernible, but saw none. Deceased was dressed in a dark tweed vest, Crimean shirt, inside cotton shirt, moleskin trousers, elastic bait with serpent hook round waist, water tight boots and light browa cotton socks, no coat. From appearances I should say it had lieen abent a fortnight or three weeks in the water. Deceased I should say was about 40 years of age, aud about oft 7iu or Bin in height, had full dark whiskers, the beard being bald. 1 hare been unable to hear anything whereby to identify the body oeyoud what has been stated here to-tlay. Frank McDavitt, sworn : I am a labourer, residing at Te Aroha. About a month ago I was working on the Shaffcesbury road near Mr Gas;e Brown's when a man came to me enquiring whether he could cross the river higher up. I told him I thought he could, but that it was rather dangerous, and that he had better enquire from some of the settlers. He leplied he had enquired at Mr Roches place and he was there informed he could cross the river higher up. He was looking for work, and carrying a small swag made up in a flour bag witu flax straps. He appeared about 30 to 35 years of n#e, and about sft 9in in height, stout build, dark hair, whiskers, and beard, dressed in moleskin trousers, Crimean shirt, dark vest, but I think had no coat on. It was about 11 o'clock in the morning and he went on higher up. I have seen the body lying at the Palace Hotel, and from + he colour of the beard, height, etc., it resembles the man who passed at the time I refer to ; but I could not state positively that it is the same. This being all the evidence, the Jury retired to consider the matter, aud on re-appearing, returned the following verdict :—": — " That the deceased, supposed to be Arthur WebsterJ was found drowned, but there is no evidence to show that it was other than accidentally." The witness Finlay stated that deceased belonged to the Church of England, and the Rev. Jas. Marshall con ducted the. burial service, the body being interred in the Te Aroha Cemetery the same afternoon.

Case of Mistaken Identity. The two brothers of Arthur Webster, seeing the reports in the Auckland papers, and also having been communicated with by the witness Finlay direct, came down to Te Aroha to make enquiries relative to their brother by Wednesday's train. On their arrival they at once interviewed Finlay, and came to the conclusion ho had been mistaken with regard to the identification of the

body, as in several important respects the description would not apply to their brother ; for instance, their brother was not bald, had not a foil beard, but regularly shavsd tne chin ; was only 32 years of age, ere. etc. They left again next morning, and wired from Mercer to Sergeant Emerson that their brother was all right. From later information we learn that Arthur Webster is at the Thames with his father, and passed through Te Aroha some three weeks since. So far, therefore, nothing is known as to the identity of the poor fellow found drowned. ,

hung a banner on which was inscribed in coloured letters, " A Welcome to the Guests, etc.," in verso. The members of the band wore present in full force, and discoursed sweet music during the night in ah exceedingly ci editable manner. There were about 40 couples present. Supper was served by Mr T. Aitken in good style. Dancing was kept up with groat zest until day dawn. Great credit is due to the Committee for the really excel >ent manner in which all the arrangements were carried out, and also to the Band for keeping so well together and maintaining' practices under many difficulties ; and it is to be hoped that their list of hon. members will greatly increase this year. The following were some of the most noticeable dresses worn on the occasion :—: — Mrs E. A. Pavitt : White muslin, black sash. Miss Pavitt : White muslin, pale blue sash. Mrs Paritt: Black French merino bugled. Mrs Cribb : Cream cashmere, white lace, and orange blossoms. . Mi*3 Cocks : Corded black silk, broche trimmings. Mrs Quinlan : Brown skirt, velvet body. Mrs Aitken : Black merino, brocho and bugle trimmingi. Mrs F. J. Lawrence : Black merino, black broche trimmings. Miss Conway : Pink sateen skirt, satin body. Mias E. Hill : jS"avy blue merino. ! Miss Devey : Maroon velvet, and ■ cream lace, I Miss Knight : Olive green cashmere, silk trimmings. Miss Webb : Maroon merino, cream lace. Mrs Burke : Maroon merino, and velvet trimmings. Mr 3 Smitbe : Slate cashmere, satin trimmings. — (Correspondent).