STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 278, 3 May 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

THE RECENT MOUNTAIN FATALITY. CASE FOR THE POLICE. (From o;ir Own Correspondent.) Noticing a letter in the Xtws, regarding the apathy of the police ;n t:io recent mountain fatality, your own correspondent called on Sergeant Dale this morning. The police are, of course, precluded from entering into a newspaper controversy, but after hearing Sergeant Dale's explanation I feel in fairness to him that the public should be given the real facts. The sergeant stated that on Friday afternoon, April 23, about 3 p.m., information was received from Dawson Fails House that Pcarce was missing. Sergeant Dale, acting on the advice of Mr. Murphy, caretaker of the Mountain House, immediately hired a motor-car, and, in company with a eonstable, went to Howan Eoad and ascertained that plenty of assistance was forthcoming from the farmers there to form a search party, and it was decided to start at daylight, entering the bu3h on Saturday from the Rowan side. The sergeant then went on to the Dawson's Falls House and conferred with Mr. Murphy, and returned to Stratford, as he was assured that nothing could be done that night. Sergeant Dale and a search party again left Stratford that morning at four o'clock, and arrived at the house at 5.45 a.m. Soon after, between thirty and forty men left in search, the party being split up into sections, and going in different direc- j tions. They were, however, unsuccessful, and, before leaving the house for Stratford that night, the sergeant ar- j ranged for all hands to start next morn- j ing at daylight, the sergeant returning to Dawson Falis at daylight on the Sunday, and tile search party, were successful in finding the bouy. Belorc leaving on Saturday, the sergeant advised the head office of the missing man. On the search party finding the body, one of their number was sent back to inform Sergeant Dale, and he immediately left Stratford to procure a conveyance, to bring the body into Stratford. This was done, and, on the sergeant return- j ing with the conveyance, the body had I just arrived at the Dawson's Falls House, I and was brought by the sergeant into I Stratford. On arrival at the morgue, ! the sum of £C was found on the body, which, in accordance with the sergeant's duties, he took possession of, and.subsequently handed over to the relative, j Being too late to wire to Wellington on Sunday, wires were sent on Monday ; morning to the superintendent of police | at Wclington, advising him of the find- j ing of the body, and asking him to : inform relatives, and the head office ! for the Stratford police district, Wan- ; ganui, was advised. Nothing was said I about funeral arrangements, as it was ! not the sergeant's duty to do so, and, further, the sergeant contends, after thirty-three years' experience, that it ! would be an insult to the relatives for the police to usurp the rights of rela- j tives in this respect. The sergeant received instructions that the deceased's brother would arrive hv the mail train on the Tuesday night, and he imme- ; diately arranged the inquest for that evening, so that no delay would be caused the relatives, and, if they so desired, they could take the body back by next morning's train. When the brother arrived, the sergeant explained the whole arrangements to him, and ho expressed himself perfectly satisfied with what had been done, and decided not to take the body back by the express, but by a later train. After the inquest, the brother expressed to the sergeant that he would make his own funeral arrangements. Further than this, the postal staff at the local post office got into communication with the relatives, with the view of assisting with funeral arrangements, but no reply was received by them. 'At the conclusion of the inquest, the brother of. deceased (as already reported) thanked all those who had so willingly searched for his brother, and especially the police for their kindness and consideration, shown him, and did not express (as the writer of the letter said he did) his dissatisfaction with the action of the poilcc. . It seems rather a pity that the true facts of the* case were, not ascertained before rushing into print, because your own correspondent (from what he knows of Sergeant Dale) feels certain that they would be the last to cause pain or feeling in such a sad circumstance.

Dr. W. P. Cameron, •whose death was announced from the Island of Xiue, was; well known in Stratford, having practised there for some time. ■Dr. Steven has left on a holiday visit. Dr. Johnston, of Wellington, is acting during his absence. A Catholic social will he held on Thursday evening, and part of the proceeds are to be donated for the Belgian Relief Funds. Dairy farms are changing hands rapidly. One local firm reports the sale of eight farms in nine days. It is rumored that the A.W.I?. Milking Machine Company have purchased a section in Broadway Xorth, and intend building show rooms and workshops im■mcdiatciV.