A MAN FOUND DROWNED ON CHELTENHAM BEACH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10834, 18 August 1898, Page 5

A MAN FOUND DROWNED ON CHELTENHAM BEACH.

Shortly after nine o'clock yesterday morning, Mr. Frederick Phipps, of Church-street, Devonport, reported to Sergeant Wild, of the Devonport police'station, that the body of a man, apparently drowned, had been discovered on Cheltenham Beach, at half ebb. Sergeant Wild went to the place indicated, and found the body of an elderly man, about 60 to 65 years of age, lying on the beach. He was not identified, and appeared to hart been.in the water only a short time, as the body was quite riexible. The clothing was all sodden with water, and a quantity of sand about the cars. There was nothing in the pockets to give a clue to deceased's identity. There were no marks of violence observable. He appears to be about sft 6in in height, medium build, and dressed in blue serge suit, usual underclothing, white shirt, and wore ankle shoes, worn through at the bottom, with a piece of paper inside. On the shirt collar were the initials W. G., and a surname like "Gough." The beard slightly tinged with red, face freckled, and eye's bluish hazel. A number of North Shore residents saw the body, but were unable to identify it. Sergeant Wild telephoned over to the Auckland police station for the police boat, and in the meantime had the body removed to the North Shore Wharf. Constables Ecclcs, Smith, Skinner, and Gaffney went over in the police boat, and brought the body to the Auckland Morgue, where it now lies, awaiting an inquest, which will not be held till to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, so as to give a further chance for identification of deceased. A number of persons visited the Morgue, but were unable to identify the body, and up to a late hour last night the police were unsuccessful in their inquiries. At first, when the finding of the body was reported, it was thought to be that of Alfred Rushton, the missing seaman from the s.s. Taieri, but as he was 26, and the man found yesterday was 60 years of age, the discrepancy of years soon settled that theory.