MR J. C. ANDREW.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1676, 13 April 1904, Page 30

MR J. C. ANDREW.

DEAD BODY DISCOVERED.

HIS SAD FATE.

MET WITH AN ACCIDENT.

DIED OF EXPOSURE.

(From Our Special Reporter).

' MAHTINBOROUGH, April 11. Never before in New Zealand has a search for a lost man been conducted so energetically and on such a large scale as that for Mr J. O. Andrew.

At the present time it is costing £SO or £7O a day. 'On the arrival of Mr W. Andrew on Sunday, he offered a reward of £2OO, and after consultation with liis brother, Dr Andrew, the reward was increased to £4OO for the missing man, dead or alive. All laab night parties of bu'slimen. — some from as far north as Castlepoint —arrived at Martinhorough, rolled themselves in blankets, and laid on the floors of the hotels, in the billiardroom, the dining-room, the sitting-room and the passage. All day, from daybreak, they left the township for the bush, twenty-five miles out. Great waggons loaded with tents and provisions have been sent away from here. Last night a brake filled with men hurrying against time in the darkness was smashed up near the township, hut the occupants were not hurt. beryoh<4 receiving bruises. Another brake took them on at daylight. Jack Gaffiord. one of the best bushmen in the Wairarapa, who is deer-stalking on a forest reserve . at Wharea.ma, has been sent for, and • a buggy and two horses are waiting to bring him through as fast as possible as soon as he can he found. The best bushmen from all over, the Wairarapa have been secured, and to-day about 160 men were in the ranges. Date this afternoon news was brought to the township that no more men. were to be sent, as food l cannot be ,taken to the bush fGr them. The men on the spot are working up and’ down the spurs running out of the l Turanganui river into the main range; hut. no trace has been found! of the lost man. Mr Andrew's dog, taken up by Dr Kendlall, made much fuss over a, deserted camp, but the members of the party are satisfied that the camp did not belong to Mr Andrew. Tb-day a body of men left the main eamrp, with provisions! and oil-sheets, and for two or three days will remain awiay from the country which is being searched by the other parties. The main body of men, in. gangs, left at daylight, and worked towards Teniunga, where the shots were heard by ■deer-stalkers in the camp of Mr Roiss and party, of Martinhorough. These shots were fired, evidently as a signal, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A shot was heard across a gully on Wednosday and Thursday , but the members of the party attached no importance to •it When' they heard a shot in the same place on Friday, Mr Ross sent a man to inquire, but he returned stating that lie saw no one. It was not until Mr Rossr returned to Martinborougih. on Sunday that he heard anything about the missing man. Most of the direct relatives of Mr Andrew are ait- Martinborcugh, including bis father and wife. The Premier, who is taking a keen interest in the search, postponed his departure from Featherston until tomorrow, ill the hope that news of the lost man may’ be found. He has offered- every facility in his power, and tribute to his kind-heartedness is given everywhere. One Wellington constable, who has for the last five weeks been searching for McKenzie, to-day joined a party from Masterton at Martinhorough, and went on with them. Constable Sheary and Mi- McKay (a relative of Mr Andrew) returned to the township this evening, after having been in-the bush for several days. The hope is still expressed! of finding Mr Andrew alive.'

(From ' the “Mail’s” Special Reporter.) FEATHERSTON, Tuesday morning. The body of . Andrew was found last ni o-ht at the Ru akakapatuina river. The unfortunate man had met with an accident and' died of exposure. . . .The body will be brought to- Mart inborough this