MISSING FIFTY YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 9

MISSING FIFTY YEARS.

AUCKLAND BOY'S FATE.

SUPREME COURT SEQUEL

WHAT BEFELL ROBERT AUSTIN?

How an Auckland boy, fourteen years of age, left New Zealand 50 years ago and has not been seen or heard of since, was related in the Supreme Court to-day, when application was made for legal authority to presume his death without issue. It was explained that the boy, Robert Charles Austin, and his children (if any) would be beneficiaries under a will, and that the estate, which is of considerable value, could not be administered without that authority. Mr. V. N. Hubble appeared for the applicant, Mrs. Lillian Park, of Auckland, administratrix of the will (that of her sister, Mrs. Minnie Saunders, deceased), and Mr. E. H. Northcroft represented the Public Trustee, on behalf of Robert C. Austin. Mr. Hubble said the boy left Auckland in 1878, when he was fourteen years of age, saying, that he was going to Sydney. His parents received letters for a few months only, after which correspondence suddenly ceased. Inquiries were made by letter, and in Australia, and advertisements were also inserted in the Australian papers, but all without avail. The boy had disappeared, and nothing had been seen or heard of him from that day to this. The parents, said Mr. Hubble, obtained just one clue,-for they heard that the boy had left one place in Australia and had gone to another, but the trail came to a dead end, and the fate of Robert Charles Austin had remained a mystery.for nearly 50 years. His parents had regarded the boy as dead for many years.

In August of last year, said counsel, application was made before Mr. Justice Stringer to presume death without issue, and his Honor' then directed that further advertisements should be put in the Australian papers. Each of the principal newspapers in the Commonwealth had been employed, but still no trace of the man could be found.

To-day, Mr. Justice Blair intimated that he would reserve his decision.