FOUR BODIES FOUND

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 24

FOUR BODIES FOUND

Napiee, April 27.

The trawler Eadon, wheu fishing about seven mile* from the shore, picked up two bodies floating amidst the debris and dead animals. They wore much mutilated by fishes, the feature! being quite unrecognisable ; but by the clothing they have been identified as those of J. Rose and H. "Brierley, two of ths rescue party lost last Friday week. Among other sab*eripfctons, members of the Ministry send £50, Mrs Lowry gives £50, Gisborue (second douatior ) J263, Huddart. Parker, and Co. £20 aud an oilVr to carry produce free, "Waipawa £50, Feslding £33, Pahiatua £30, New Zealand Shipping Company £20. Mr Douglas M'Lean' has given another £50 in addition to the previous £100. A buggy, with a horse harnessed, has bsen washed up on the beach at Nuhaka. It is not locally owned.

April 29.

The Harbour Board's dredge J.D.O. aad a fttearn trawler have been searching the bay on a line where the two bodies were found, but without result.

Ab showing the damage to county roads, a party only yesterday succeeded in riding from Konini, on the Main Pacea road, 20 miles from Napier, using two gets of horses, and taking 12 boars on the Journey. Tiwir last communication with the out-side world was 13 days before. Even five miles from town the roads at EEeanee are so bad that the coach service, which it was attempted to re-establish, has had to be abandoned. There is only one road from Napier open to vehicular traffic, that* being a roundabout route to Hastings, impassible when the rivers aie high, as a* large bridge has had two ipans swept away.

• Ma: 2. The body of Constable Sfcephenson was found floating inside the breakwater yesterday after-

, noon. Soon afterwards that of Prebbie was • Ivrashed up near the Waiting!. Constable Stephenson was accorded a full military funeral. Prebble's funeral took place at the saras time.

.The procession was an immenee one, acid at the cemetery several thousand people assembled. Dean Hovell delivered a most impressive - address at the grave side.

In the Baptist Church last evening tho Rev. G. D. Cox, who is a very active member of the executive of the flood relief fund, urged his hearers to give to the utmost of their capacity. The reports of country sub- committees which Were coining in showed that the misery and tiistres* was far greater than was believed to be the case at firsS. At present the fund bad reached abonb £3000, but that would hardly touch the fringe of the distress. From £10,000 to £15,000 would be needed, not to reinstate the settlers in the position they were before— that was simply hopeless,— but merely to tide them over the present difficulties. He h»d . personal knowledge of the thoroughness with which the sub-committees were investigating every case — working almost night and day,— and he could assure every giver thab the money subscribed was being most carefully expended. ■ A« the most complete refutation of the report of the Nsw Zealand Times that the Natives here are sending fehe Native Assembly at Greyfcoirn the food given for their relief, a letter is published from the Assembly asking for particulars of the distress smougst the Natives, as a relief fund is being raised there.