WAITOTARA MYSTERY SOLVED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 204, 30 June 1903, Page 2

WAITOTARA MYSTERY SOLVED.

CLOTHING IDBNrmEO. The mystery attacking to the body found on On 14th instant ostbt M beach near Waitotan has been altered up by »he identification of the (Joßifag and effeota as belonging to lira A. W, P. Haloombc,a well-known and highly respeeted resident of the coaat, W* gather thit deceased, since the deathol her husband three years ago, had been living with her Bar, Mr A. H. Halcombe, at Urenui, near Waitara, till November last, when she went to stay with her married daughter at Ingle* wood. About the end of May last deoeased visited Her son, and then west on to Marton. She then seemed depies?ed in spirits. Oa the 19th instant Mr Halcombe went to Aook* land from (Jrenui, and while there he received a wire from another bother at Rata asking if he knew when * bis mother was. He returned to New PJymonth on the 25* h instant, and on arriving home found his mother's letters sad a dressing ease which had been forwarded from Fatea on the 10th instant. The address was' in his mother's handwriting. Mr Hal* combe immediately wired to Mr Etoie, at Marton, and received a reply that he had put deceased on the train at Marton, for Inglewood, on the IOA . instant. He then ascertained that a well-dressed lady had called at the Fatea railway station about 5.50 p.m. lon the same day and left a paiuel r which Mr Halocmbe found toooottla bis mother's dresnng-oass. The ad« 1 dress had been badly written, showing that deoeased was in an excited state at tbe time. He knew that a body had been picked up at Waitotara, and sab* sequently identified the jewellery M belonging to his mother. Mr Halooabe ; added that deoeassd had a bad attack lof influenza about 18 month* ago, and sine a then she had never been the earn# in health, and was depressed at timse, A peculiar inoident is mentioned by Mr Halcombe, to the effect that in 1869 his father nearly lost his life *t I Patea. He waa for four hours holding [ on to a ropa in tbe river durinv afloodj and this, be thinks, may have attracted his mother to the place. The deceased was well-known in the * North Itl tnd, and was greatly respected by all who knew her. £he was a mod talented artist, and her penoil (kstobst and other works earned for her a oolonial reputation. Mrs Halcombe, who was 59 years of Age, was a daughter of tbe late Mr W. Swainson, F.R.8., of I the Hut% and ber husband was WW* ; knowu as the mtnager of (he JiaO* T: cbester or FeiMing Block some tweaty J years ago.— Chronicle.