FlNDING OF A DEAD BODY.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 420, 23 January 1875, Page 2

FINDING OF A DEAD BODY.

Intelligence reaphed, an] official in ifgaruawahia some days back "that some natives had found the body of an infant enclosed in' a bag, with a brick attached, - floating in - the Waikato rivev, near Churchill. The natives p3ej)?d into the mouth of the bag, whether on account of thet smelT or, their natural 'superstition, they immediately returned it to 1 the river. The first official to whom the • affair was leporfced made enquiries, from which he concluded that there was room for suspicion tfyat the unfortunately com,mon ciipie" of infanticide had been perpetrated.- He having to proceed to Auckland, telegraphed to another Government pfficial resident in Com bridge, well versed in the native language, and supposed to pqssess a keen scent for the detection of crime. He.started immediately, and ,rode hard to Ngaruawahia, took a drinfc at the Delta, and immediately started in search of a boat^ He told the story t6 a storekeeper, who owns one, he of course in the interest of justice lent it willingly. The official from Cambriige immediately got in and started down the river in gallant style. He made enquiries' as he went past the different settlements, but got no tangible information till he reached Churchill. Here he interviewed an old Maori woman who said she had looked into the bag and saw the hair of a child, the body being much decomposed. She -returned it to the river, and thought it might be found a few nliles further down. Away started the energetic Cambridge official ; he at last succeeded in finding the bag described ; he opened it (having got a Maori to hold his nose tight while he did so) ; imagine his disgust, the bag only contained —^a very old-fashioned torn cat. He is very irate, and it is dangerous to mention cat in his hearing.