SUPPOSED DROWNING AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12071, 15 September 1902, Page 5

SUPPOSED DROWNING AT SEA.

A ZEALANDIA PASSENGER MISSING. On the arrival of the s.s. Zealandia in Auckland, from Gisborne, yesterday afternoon, the forecabin steward (Charles Rowlev) reported to Constable Fitzgerald, on wharf duty, that a steerage passenger named William Smith, a farmer, of Albert Forest, near Ashburton, bad been missing since the previous night. Mr. Rowley stated that ho last saw the missing man shortly after ten o'clock on Saturday night, going up the stairway of the forecabin. Win. Standin. a through passenger for Sydney, stated that he saw Smith at halfpast ten on Saturday night, standing by the rail, and ill from seasickness. John Small, another passenger, stated that he and Smith were travelling together from

| Ashburton to Auckland, for the purpose of ■ attending a horse sale in town this week. : Mr. Small thought Smith unlikely to com- ■ mit suicide. Tie had known him about 12 j years ago, when he was a well-to-do farmer residing near Ashburton. Smith would. he said, he about 60 years of age, and had a grown-up family. The chief officer of the Zealandia informed the police that the | missing man had a considerable amount I of money, as he had produced a large roll \of notes when paying his fare. At half- ■ past ten on Saturday night, when j Smith was last seen, the ship was I off Cape Runaway, standing 10 miles out. I Constable Hancox (of Oisborne), who was ' a passenger by the Zealandia, in charge, of three prisoners, reported as to a search 1 being made for Smith vesterday morning. j He considered that the missing man. who j was short in stature, must have been preJ cipitated into (he water whilst standing on the rail vomiting.