THE MANAKAU MYSTERY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 258, 1 May 1912, Page 5

THE MANAKAU MYSTERY

SEARCHING FOR BEATTIE. Otaki, April 29. There is still no word of the missing man Stanley J. Beattie, who left his home on April 6. A party" consisting of Constables Angland and Hunter (of Wellington), Messrs. Tom and Arthur Carkeek (two well-known bushmen), unil Messrs. Teretutu and Keliu Hakaraia (two local natives) left here this afternoon to join Messrs. R. C. Dunn, P. Langesen, J. Gray and A. Russling at the Otaki Forks, where the Otaki party will camp for the night, having been giviln' the use of a hut belonging to Mr. D. Judd. The party will start at daylight and search the vicinity in which the two dogs made their exit. They will follow the Otaki and Waitewaewae streams, and search in the vicinity of Mount Crawford. The searchers expect to return here before the end of the week, and have taken provisions, etc., to last them for the necessary time. Guns, dogs, etc., have not been forgotten. j The sum of £2O has been Taised by j Manakau residents to go towards the expenses of the party. The weather at present on the .hills is unfavorable, owing to the recent heavy rains, while snow is plentiful further south, and will tend to make the vicinity cold and unsuitable for camping. CLAIRVOYANT'S STORY. FEARS OF A TRAGEDY. A person interested in the welfare of Mr. J. S. S. Beattie, who has been absent from Manakau for over three weeks, has consulted a leading New Zealand clairvoyant. This person states: "The collar I hold in my hand is that of a missing man with initials S.B. When I think, a creepy feeling comes over me. Oh! he has received a knock on the head; he has met with an accident, and has injured his right shoulder and arm. He wants to lift his head, but cannot. He is lying by a bare tree, near running water. Searchers have looked for him, and have failed. He has a gun and two dogs with him, one of which has met with an accident, having broken its leg. Two other dogs have left him. The man has had a fire, and near by I see a handkerchief or a piece of cloth on a tree. He is dead. Searchers should go furtheT north. I can see something like a man under a bridge. The place is damp, and is covered with fern and grass. He has money in his pocket." The Manakau people, on hearing of the above, organised a party, which intends to visit the locality. Yesterday the weather was too boisterous to allow of searching. '