STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF A STATE SCHOOL TEACHER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1312, 24 February 1883, Page 3

STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF A STATE SCHOOL TEACHER.

Mr Harris, the head master 'of a State schoQl at Beecbrtvorth, Victoria, against whom gross charges were' recently preferred by the .Education department, disappeared in a remarkable manner on the River Yarra, on Monday.- afternoon, and fears are entertained for his safety. An inquiry unto the charges referred to have just been concluded. Harris was summoned to attend the inquiry, but he did. not put in appearance, and it was conducted in his absence. In connection with his disappearance, it appears that about oneo!clock on Monday afternoon he hired a boat from Mr Gardner, near the Sir Henry Barkly Hotel, and proceeded up the river, taking with him a towel and soap. Mr Gardner,' junior, who watched Bams row away, saw that a boat containing a number of youths was following him. Some considerable time elapsed, and as young Gardner was going out to search, for Harris, who had riot returned, he observed the boat with the youths in it coming down the river, having Harris's boat in tow. When they arrived at the boat sheds, Gardner examined the boat hired by Harris, and found his clothesin it and a towel and soap. The pockets of the trousers were turned inside out. Gardner asked the youths what they bad done with the clothes, as he knew that Harris possessed a good sum of money when he left. One of their number replied that they had not touched them, and they all then rowed away, and nothing has since been heard of them. A letter was found in the pocket of Harris's trousers, addressed to Mr Zineke, M.L.A., in which the writercomplained of being badlytreated the Education department, and stated his intention of staying away from Beechworth, until the charges against him were specified. The detectives are now engaged in endeavoring to elucidate the whole affair, but up to the present their efforts haue not met' with success, Their first effort is to discover theyoutbswho were observed In the boat following Harris, as it is quite possible some foul play may have taken place, The police have been busily engaged dragging the river, but lip to a late hour, last night Harris's body had not been found.—Age,. January 24, •