LITTLE GIRL ASTRAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 4 April 1925, Page 7

LITTLE GIRL ASTRAY.

WANDERS FROM EXPRESS TRAIN.

MOTHER CONTINUES JOURNEY,

I (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") TE AWAMUTU, this day. . Early this morning a settler in -the j Paterangi district found a small girl wandering along the road a considerable ; distance from Te Awamutu, obviously lost. Inquiry elicited the information that the girl's name was Sybil Burke, and that she was ten years of age. She said she had been a passenger on the Main Trunk express from Wellington to Auckland this morning, in company with her mother. Both had apparently fallen asleep, and the girl awakened to find -the train stopped. Hurriedly looking about in 'the darkened carriage, she failed to find her mother ar_»i assumed that the train had reached Auckland. She hurriedly scrambled out of the carriage, apparently only half awake, but on reaching the platform could not see her mother. The train at that moment drew out of the station in continuation of its journey. Sybil, apparently too amazed to ask questions of a few people on the platform, wandered away, and, instead of proceeding towards the business centre of the toAvn, must have turned towards Pirongia and then along Paterangi Road. On her discovery soon after daylight, the child was much distressed. The Te Awamutu police quickly communicated with Constable Doyle, who set inquiries in motion, but the railway I authorities could throw no light on the I matter, not having teen advised from Frankton or Auckland of any untoward accident. Constable Doyle got in telephone communication with the Auckland police asking them to prosecute inquiry and to assure the child's mother that her daughter was safe and well. Since the discovery of the child i nothing has < been heard of the mother. llt is known to the police that her name is Mrs. Mabel Burke, but her address and Auckland friends—if any—are not known. The police and railway officials are at a loss to understand why the mother has not reported the affair. Neither the Auckland nor the Frankton. railway officials have heard from the I mother. ! Anyone knowing anything of the mother's whereabouts should report to , the Auckland police. It was announced this afternoon that ithe child had been claimed .