SKELETON ON BEACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21539, 11 January 1932, Page 9

SKELETON ON BEACH

HOLE IN BACK OF SKULL BOYS’ CONFLICTING- STATEMENT. An unusual story is associated with the discovery at the Waihi Beach last ■week of human remains. The discovery was made by two boys, Thomas Niehol and Sydney Hewitson. Niehol is employed at the beach by Mr H. Byrne, a farmer. Hewitson belongs to Hamilton, and his parents are camped at the beach lor the holidays. Although the discovery of the remains was made on Monday, it. was not reported to the police until Wednesday morning. . , ~ Subsequent investigations leave tne identity of the remains still uncertain, and show that the statements made by Niehol and Hewitson regarding the existence of a gun alongside the skeleton conflict in a remarkable manner. When the coroner and Constable Dalbeth,. accompanied by Dr Hetherington, arrived at the beach on Wednesday afternoon they learned that the locality where the remains were found was five miles down the beach in the sands close to Bowentown Heads. The youth Niehol made a statement to the constable that he had found a singlebarrelled shotgun buried in the sand alongside the skeleton, that it had the name “T. Tierney” inscribed on the plate, and that the barrel was considerably rusted. He also said that he hQu replaced the gun in its original position before leaving the spot with Hewitson. Digging operations soon, disclosed tne complete skeleton of what appeared to be a man. The teeth were mt perfect condition. There was a fairly large hole in the back of the skull. A thorough search, however, showed no trace ot a On returning from the beach the police interviewed Sydney Hewitson, a bright little boy of 11, who made a clear statement to the effect that there was no sign of a shotgun or other weapon when he and Niehol discovered the remains. He said they had come across a portion of a skeleton showing above the sand, and. after digging round it, they covered it over and left for their homes. Ho was certain that there was no sign or any gun. and Niehol had told him that there was none. Hewitson further stated that Niehol informed him the police had offered £IBO reward for the discovery ol a missing man named Tierney. An examination of the remains, which were brought into Waihi on Wednesday evening, was made on Thursday, and the definite conclusion was reached that they are not those of the missing man Tierney. Mr S. M. Hovell, an authority on thc y Native race, states that the sln.l is that of a Maori. Niehol still adheres to his statement that a gun was alongside the skeleton.