AMOTHER BODY FOUND IN THE WAIHOU RIVER.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 2

AMOTHER BODY FOUND IN THE WAIHOU RIVER.

On Sunday afternoon last the body of an elderly man was found in the Waihou river a short distance above the old punt landing, almost entirely buried in the eand on the eastern bank. The "body was discovered by some lads who were boating. Information was at once conveyed to the police, and the body conveyed to the Palace Hotel. Deceased was a man apparently about 50 years of age, medium height and build, grey hair, and whiskers, the chin shaved ; dressed in a suit of dark tweed, and evidently did not belong to the labouring* class. As a, result of enquiries .made, and from some memorandums, etc., found upon the body, there can be little doubt deceased name was J. H. Stewart, formerly school teacher at Bunny Thorpe, Whanganui, but for some time out of employment, and destitute. Mr T. Wells who arrived at Te Aroha by Monday's train, went to view the body and at once identified it ag that of a man who had been working for Him for several .days, in his garden at Cambridge, and Vhope name :he. .believed was, Stewart^. Constable White also "recognised the body as that of a man wlio arrived by train at Te Aroha about a fortnight previously, but only stayed a very short time. An inquest was held at the Court House on Tuesday before Mr W>. F. Hunt J.P. acting for Coroner, and the following jury : Messra A. Downes (foreman), J.

Hnvtj G. Ebert, J. Erasmus, and «W. Quinlah. After hearing the evidence, the o nry returned a verdict to the "effect that deceased ,\vas found drowned in the Waihou river ; that there was no evidence to show by what means, and attached a rider stating that deceased was supposed to be a man named J. H. Stewart. " During his short stay at Te Arohs deceased received some assistance from several residents, and made himself known as being; a Freemason, and the members of the Craft kindly took charge of all funeral arrange mentB ; the body being interred in Te Aroha Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.