DEATH OF HON. HENRY CHAMBERLAIN. FOUND DEAD IN A WATER-HOLE. PROSPECTING FOR COAL AT DRURY. Auckland, April 16.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 256, 18 April 1888, Page 4

DEATH OF HON. HENRY CHAMBERLAIN. FOUND DEAD IN A WATER-HOLE. PROSPECTING FOR COAL AT DRURY. Auckland, April 16.

Somi: astonishmcno was felt in town fcliis morning w hen tho nen'h was received that tho Hon. Honry Chamberlain, M.b.C, had been found dead in a wator-hole at Druiy. It appear-, that, notwithstanding his- age, Mr Chamberlain lias for some timo past been in the habit of going to Drury poiiodically by tho B a in. train, for the purpose of prospecting tor ooal on the hills of his estate in that district. JLe usually returned to Auckland by the evening train on the same day, spending the intermediate horns in wandering about his estate with a spade, and digging holes in the hope ot discovering a .seam ot coal. Between a month and the weeks ago, he took a boy named Brook 1 - w ith him, and sank a small shaft, about 4 feet deep, it was triangular in .shape un the suilace, 4 feet wide at the base, and fi\c toot long on each .side of the tiiangie. It was. in this hole that the untoitunate old gentleman met hu> death. The following telegi.un, which was forwaidod bv Constable MeKnight, who is stationed at l'apakura, briefly states the baro facts of the ease :— " The Hon. Henry Chamberlain, M.L.C., was found dead in a wateihole about 4 teet in depth. The deceased ai lived fioni Auckland on the 12th instant tor the purpose of piospeeting tor coal on his estate, and boiroweda bucket and spade from Mia Hrooks, who i elides on part of the estate. Deceased piomised to return Iheimplements that evening, but did not return. James Cofrfey, a farmer, found deceased-, coat and waistcoat hanging on the branch of a tree near tho watei hole \\ lieredeceuKsd wasdiscov ci cd. Mr Cossey came on to Drury andreported the iinding of those articles to the station master. Mr Cos^cy returned in company with David Mcßuiney. Joseph Flannaghan, Thomas Brook- and I\. Biook.-<. After a little seai eh they found the body of de ceased in a water-hole near to the place whore the clothes were found hanging. Deceased haddugtheholehimselfm company wibli Mr Brooks, about three weeks ago, and appaiently deceased was in the act of bailing out the hole to sink deeper. -It is vsupposed deceased met his death on Thui>day. ISo marks of violence weie found upon the bod> , which was removed to the Hallway Hotel, Diuiv, wheie it now lie<=. Mr Chamberlain left hi* o\eieoat and travelling bag with Mis Biooks, stating that he would return for them. As he did not do so, the) concluded that Mi Chambeilain had gone to the Hunua station, aa he was at times in tho habit of doing. It was alfo possible that lie might ha\e got into the tuiin unnoticed, as he travelled with a member'pass, and consequent 1) would not call at the ticket ofliee. For these leasons Mr Biookn did not think it very extraoidina y that Mr Chamberlain did not call back for hi-, oveieoal. It \\ as not until a few nrinutepa^t 6 o'clock on Sunday evening that they began to fear that something was wrong, »lien Mr Cos.-ey, |unr., arrived with the news that he li.ul touiul Mr Chamberlain's coat, collar and necktie hanging on the Inanch of a tree and his umbrella standing beside it, but saw no hat. The bucket wa>. beside the hole and the (in can floating on the water in it. The station mastci, Mr Howard, immediately organised a party, consisting of Messrs Flauigan, Mcßurnie, Brooke and son, and Cossey, junr,, who pioceeded at 6.30 o'clock to tho water-hoie. A- it was getting dark they took lamp-- with them. I" pon arming at the r*pot indicated the search party pioetiied a long pole, and upon putting it down the hole, felt that there was something at the bottom. Upon closer impeetion this proved to be the bodj of the Hon. Henry Chamberlain. With some difficulty the lemains weie lai-ul to the mi i face, and removed to the Railway Hotel at , Drur). The tiouneife of deceased weie lolled up to the knees. His watch was in hi- pocket, and was found to have stopped at «") minutes 10 7 o'clock. The search pat ty did not leturn with the remains to Mr God kin's Hotel untilaboutlOp.in. Mi Howaid, the station ma^tei at Dun), lode to Pttpakuia and g«\e the neecs-ai) notice to Constable Mclvnight. That ollicei then telfgitiphed the news to Jnspectoi Hioham, and al-o (ommuuicated w ith Captain »)<iekson, the nearest coronet, to asccitain win n j an inquest would be held.