HAWKE SBAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 34

HAWKE SBAY.

For the last four weeks the police have been endeavouring to elucidate the mystery connected with the disappearance of a man named Christopher M'Beath. He came to Gipborne a month ago, drew £80 from the Po°st Office Savings Bank, which he- lodged

with the Bank of New Zealand. He purchased an outfit, and made preparations a trip to England. On the day he was to have left he was missed, and no trace of his whereabouts could be found. His horse was left in a stable, and the goods he had purchased were uncalled for. The mystery was solved on Thursday by the discovery of the body floating in the river, near the wharf. It was in a state of advanced decomposition, but there is> little doubt that it is M'Beath's remains.

At Tologa Bay on Friday some boys playing on the beach discovered in the surf a body in a very decomposed state. It is \ believed to be the body of a man named John Harris, lost in the vicinity six months ago. He was supposed to have been drowned ' whilst fording the river. An inquesc was held at C4isborne on the body of Christopher M'Beth, discovered in the river on Thursday. The evidence showed j that money and valuables had not been taken from the man's pockets, and the suspicions of foul play at first entertained are believed , to be foundationless.