A BUSH MUST BY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1363, 6 October 1886, Page 3

A BUSH MUST BY.

The story of the phantom bushfaller, who, some years ago disturbed by the sound of his axe the slumbers of a party of roadmakers in the Fortymile Bush, and wh se skeleton was subsequently founo in a hollow rata tree, has been revived by the finding on Tuesday last, near the same spot at the Pahiatua village sen!** ment of a large swag 0 decayed thai c intents when disturbed almost fell to pieces. The local Slat says that amorg the o’othieg was a naval coat (It Is Impossible to say whether it was a dress-coat o a shell j .cket), and from the butt m* which ate silver, and in a good state of preservation), we should say the owner once belonged to the Union Steam Sb pping Co.’s service—they bearing the letters \ Masonic diploma on parchment (issued by the Grand Lodge of New Sooth Wales), was also In the ■wag, and although very ranch discolored by the wet, yet we were enabled to ar ive at the name and the date of issue ; and we have communicated wUh the Brand Lodge at Sydney asking for any information on the matter it may feel diposed to impart The name on the parchment is •* David William Walker,” and the date of issue the earij oait of 1882. In one of the vest pockets was found a small scent bottle, made as a pendant for a watch chain, the top screwing on. Although there Is no liquid in the bottle now, It has a very strong erne 1 of musk. There was also a r*z >r, tooti • brush, comb, pocket book, and other articles • bat nothing of any great value has been discovered. The relics have been safely deposited with Mr Hicks, baker, of Pahiatua.