MYSTERIOUS FIND.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 228, 28 September 1887, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS FIND.

A SUPPOSED CASUALTY IK THE HABBOUK.

Ox Monday Captain Rountree, of the North, cote ferry steamer, reported to Constable O'Brien, at Northcote, that he had on the previous day found a flat-bottomed boat or punt floating bottom upwards on the west side of the Northcote wharf, also a hard hat and an overcoat on the opposite side of the wharf, while at the same time sevei-al loaves of bread were floating round. The boat was 12 feet long, 3 feet wide and 14 inches deep, and had evidently never been painted, but the bottom was tarred inside and outside. Constable O'Brien made inquiries at Chelsea, Birkenhead, and among the gum-diggers, but could gain no information as to anyone being missing from the district. On searching the coat a letter, unsigned and unaddressed, dated March 7th, 1887, was found, also a timetable, the memorandum pages of which contained inventories of groceries and a kind of diary. The writer speaks of leaving Broderick's to go to Onehunga, and of being at Massey's. The grocery lists are headed "McLeod, September 10," "Bishop's Account," "To Hepburn ;" the latter being subscribed D. McLennan, Brick and Tile Works, Henderson. The police have made inquiries,but all the information they can gain is that a fortnight back two young fellows were gum-dig-ging at Shark Bay and were accustomed to go to Ponsonby each Saturday in a punt for pro visions, but the description of the punt does not answer to that of the one found. The hat and coat, which is a dark brown one, with check lining and rather the worse for wear, are now at the police station.