THE FATE OF MR AYRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 128, 31 May 1901, Page 5

THE FATE OF MR AYRES.

STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR

There is every reason to believe that Mr. Fred Ayres, of the Bank of Australasia, lost his life in the burning hotel. He was not seen after the lire, and everything points to the sad fact that he was burned to death. When the first body, supposed to be that o fthe eldest Johnstone girl, was found this morning, it was thought by some to be Mr. Ayres' body, but this, the police and firemen, and Sergeant Forbes, who picked up the body from the debris, states that it \vas a mere trunk, and quite unrecognisable, but it was from its smail ske that of a child. However, the manager and the accountant of the bank saw the body, and they are positive it is that of Mr. Ayres. A further search of the debris was to be made this afternoon as soon as some of the dangerous portions of the brick walls, etc., were removed.

Dr. Lewis has made an examination of the body in order to ascertain if possible which of the victims it was, and he says it is the body of a girl.

Mr. Fred Ayres was about 41 years of age, and was unmarried. His relatives reside in Queensland. For many years he was employed by the Bank of Australasia in Victoria as accountant and manager, and was subsequently transferred to Dunedin to take charge of the branch there. Some five years ago he was appointed sub-inspector, doing inspector's duty for the North Island. He came to Auckland about a fortnight ago to carry out the usual half-yearly inspection of the bank, and was to have returned South on Monday next. Mr. Ayres was held in the highest estimation by his employers, and was a general favourite in private life. The flag was flown at half-mast in the Bank of Australasia, and the management wired particulars to headquarters.