UNKNOWN. "WAIPAWA, June 16.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 27

UNKNOWN. "WAIPAWA, June 16.

John Wolstenholme, storekeeper at Ongaonga, left Waipukurau for home in a gig on Wednesday night, and no trace of him can be found. The trap was found capsized down an embankment near the Toad, with a cap and a collar and tie alongside, with blood spots on them. The horse was free from the harness. Although search parties have been out for a day and a night, not the slightest trace has been found of the missing man.

June 18. It is reported on reliable authority that Wolstenholm, who has been missing since the capsize of his trap, was seen in Wellington on Friday evening. He is supposed to be suffering from concussion of the brain His friends left to-day in order to bring him home.

The Hastings correspondent of the Oamaru Mail states that Wolstenholme waa for many years a schoolmaster at Napier, and was particularly well known in cricket circles as a member of the United Club and a Hawke's Bay representative. Great concern is expressed at his disappearance, and practically the whole of the Waipukurau residents organised themselves into a search party on Friday, the number of those scouring the vicinity of the accident totalling 200. It is thought that in his dazed state Wolstenholme wandered into a swamp and fell into one of the holes with which the swamp abounds. One of the perplexing points in tho affair is the finding of all the harness and the gig, proving that the horse must have got away by some strange means, although it is reported that part of the harness has the appearance of having been cut. The weather i* very severe, and there appears little chance of discovering the missing man alive.

Th<* Labour Department assisted 114 married and 500 single men in getting employment during last month. At the Ross Railway League the other clay it was decided to respectfully, but urgently, recommend (ho Government to provide on next parliamentary appropriations a sufficient amount to complete the Hokitika-Southern railway to the Waitaha; and also to survey and make the necessary reserves so as to provide for the connecting O* line of railway with the Otago Central, Artisans employed oa co-operative works throughout tha colony during last month numbered 224 and laboui°rs 8112. The Department of Roads employed 3249 tzhrsiren, and tb« remainder of the men B«r/3d under th« Pablio Work* Department. JTh* Forth laland Main Trunk railway works, oriujjsd <J6 artisans. and 2028 labourers, and fche various aertions of tho Midland railway Works had 26 artisans and 772 labourers enr'^ed upon them. Ther* were 248 mfa .on she Ota*o Ceptral railway worka, 274 on the Blenbeim-Waipara line, and 75 ©a U»a tC««£nr rt-Tnanc^Vnlft TrOrkf J