PERISHED ON RUAPEHU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15262, 28 March 1913, Page 8

PERISHED ON RUAPEHU.

BINCrHAirS BODY FOUND.

IN FIVE FEET OF WATER.

DECEASED'S HEAD INJUKED.

PROBABLY DUE TO FALL.

A ROUGH AND LONELY SPOT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Ohakxtne, Thursday. The fears which were entertained for the safety of the : young man, Mr. Napier Bingham, who was lost on Mount Ruapehtt, were confirmed to-day, when news was received of his tragic fate. j The body of the missing man was found in Manganui-a-te-au Stream at about aquarter past nine o'clock this morning by a party, consisting of Messrs. Blyth, l Hyde, Tansey, Carr, and Christie. On their way up the stream, another party found the clothing and boots discarded by Mademoiselle Coche, and the search Tag then continued further up the stream. :

Two members of the party which found the body - returned at about five o'clock this afternoon, and reported from Horopito that Bingham had been found dead in a pool about sft deep. The place where the body was found was nearly half a mile above the waterfall described by Miss Coche 4 and the party experienced great difficulty in reaching the spot, which is seven miles up the stream from we railway. The bed of the stream is very rough.

The 'party reported that the unfortunate young man's body was not badly injured, but there was a severe cut on the forehead. This it is thought was caused by the head of the deceased coming in contact with a . boulder after he had fallen over a ledge into the stream.

The searchers were too much exhausted to convey the body to town, and this work was left to a relay party, which is now engaged in clearing a way. The body will be brought in late to-morrow afternoon, as the rough travelling to be met with w;ll not allow the party to accomplisn the journey in less time. A previous search party passed the spot where the body was found, bu'> twraehow missed it.' An inquest will probably be held if the body is brought to Ohakune to-morrow.

:> The search party cannot understand how Mademoiselle Coche managed to accomplish the descent of the stream, as the bed is very rough and the banks precipitous. : It'would'have been : difficult for anyone acquainted with the country to descend titt.: stream, and •' how Madeinoiselle Coche accomplished the - descent is a mystery. That she did descend the stream is fully borne out by the fact of clothing being founds the bank by the. search party.

Mademoiselle Coche is • making good progress towards recovery, and was able to ait up for a little while to-day. f*; ; Mademoiselle Coche has generously given £10 ,to . Mr. A. Wilkie lor the relief parties, ; »nd; another £5 to Mr. L. Bradcock for the Alpine Club's house.