GISBORNE MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 255, 28 October 1929, Page 7

GISBORNE MYSTERY.

CHILD'S DISAPPEARANCE.

SEARCHES' ALL FRUITLESS

NO INFORMATION GAINED.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. Increasing anxiety is felt for the safety of Harry Boyd Foote, aged five years and nine months, who has been missing 6'ince Wednesday afternoon. The child has disappeared as completely a,s though tne ground opened up and swallowed him. Not the slightest trace of him has been found, and no information has been received as to his whereabouts or movements since .he left his' mothers side at the Show. Wednesday and Thursday nights were bitterly cold, wet and stormy, and if the child spent those nights in the open the exposure must have been a terrible ordeal, particularly so as he was inadequately clad, to withstand the elements. On Wednesday the child, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Foote, of Te Hapara, attended the Show with his mother. About 4.30 p.m. he left her to purchase an icecream, with the intention of returning immediately. The police were notified when Mr. and Mrs. Foote became alarmed at the boy's continued absence, and with the distracted parents they combed the showgrounds. On Wednesday evening and the following morning, in the gale that was then sweeping the district, Mr. Foote revisited the grounds and interviewed the remaining showmen in the hope that the}' might have seen some sign of the child. He also carefully searched the locality round the park.

The search has been continued with increased energy by Mr. Foote and the police, together with several other people who came forward voluntarily to assist, but that search and inquiries amongst friends and relatives proved fruitless. Every building and tent and every other possible place of concealment in the locality was examined.

The boy's disappearance and the total lack of information are becoming increasingly mysterious, for every possible step has been taken to appraise the public of the matter. A description of the child has- been broadcast by wireless, slides have been shown in the picture theatres, and considerable publicity has been given to the matter in the Press, but despite all tins not one person has come forward with the smallest shred of information..

NOT IN THE POND. BOTTOM SEARCHED IN VAIN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, this day. The fire brigade's trailer pumps were engaged all night in pumping out a pond near the showground. About 525,000 gallons of water were lifted and the water level was reduced to Ift, after which volunters made a complete search of the weeds and slime at the bottom. They found no trace of the missing child.