THE LATE WILLIAM GUMMING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2581, 26 January 1889, Page 3

THE LATE WILLIAM GUMMING.

It will bo m the recollection of most of our readers that Mr Gumming was lost in the bush on the 11th of August last, at the head of the Mahikirau Creek, Mercury Bay. The. particulars, so far as known, are as follow:—Mr Gumming was encamped at tho time and place in question with two other men—Messrs Acton and Rogers— prospecting, and on the morning ot the 11 th of \ugust lie took a gun, and said ho would go out and shoot a bird or two, and w.is never seen again. It came ou very thick, and rained heavy that afternoon, and it is supposed deceased lost his way, and, in endeavouring to get oul, .-.tinted down a creek (as he was known to say he would do if ever he got lost), and, g. Ming into a water-hole, was drowned. At the time ho was lost largo numbers of men went out in all directions lookiug for him, but never found a tiac.'. # An inquest was held at Manai > on lues day last, before Mr A. R. H. Swind.ey, coronet, and a jury of six, Mr J. D. Ooielirook foreman, Having viewed the remains the e'. idrnce was taken, and it appears some natives were living on the banks ot the Kakataralii Creek, a branch if the Manaia, and oil the night of the 17th went into the creek eel fishing with torches, and came upon tho body caught between the boulders, having evidently been brought there by a Hood. They immediately communicated with the jji >1 ice, and chief Constable Rist went out, and with the assistance of the natives and Mr Wilson brought the ren.a n< to M;u.<ia. The place was examined thoroughly, and it was quite evident that death did not take place where the body was found. There were 110 bones broken and no marks of violence, and from appearances the cons'able concluded that deceasid was drowned the same day or very shortly alter he was lost, because tho clothes did not show any sign of having !«een torn in the bush, all weie buttoned up, and a small bag of shot which deceasod was known to have was found in the pocket. The gun was not found. The constable fully identified the body by tho teeth and clothes, having known him for sixteen years. The general opinion is that deceased having lost his way in the bush had endeavoured to get out by following down the creek, but it being flooded he had lost his footing and been swept away. After a short deiberatiou the jury brought in an open verdict, '"That deceased was found dead, but there was no evidence to show how death was caused."—Herald correspondent.