MISSING BOY FOUND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16578, 6 November 1924, Page 9

MISSING BOY FOUND.

A REMARKABLE STORY.

This afternoon Constable McDonnell ivas advised that the missing lad, Robert Hadwen, whose disappearance was reported in our first edition, find been found. He was discovered, in the grounds at the back of the hospital in an exhausted condition. A remarkable story surrounds the 1 mystery of the boy’s disappearance. He had been within earshot of his home ail the time, but was unable to answer the calls of his anxious parents, because lie was caught in some heavy manuka scrub and was hanging head downwards with his head in thick mud. It appears that the unfortunate boy was returning home for his coat, and after getting through a fence, misjudged the nearness of a bank, and slipped into- tbo manuka, being thrown into a position from which lie could neither move nqr call out. The circumstances were explained this afternoon by the boy’s mother, who was overjoyed at the ending of what they had feared was a tragedy. She and Mr Hadwen spent the whole night and all to-day searching in vain, for the boy, while neighbors wore scouring other parts of the district without success. They were at a loss to account- for his absence, and had exhausted every avenue of inquiry, not. for one mo-men! considering the possibility of his being in difficulties within, a few yards al most cf the house. It- was quite by accident that the child’s uncie bar: I passed close to the nVatmkn scrub this afternoon, and had his attention aitvactj r-.T to the -clump -of trees where the boy j was hanging.' The lad wasiowrxl to- he j sovurely caught beneath the shoulders, ’j while his head was firmly embedded in I: hA mud. All day yesterday, tiirou-gh-I out the night, hnd for the best part- of to-day ho had hung in this position, unable to move, and unable to answer the ca-lls which lie) repeatedly heard. Tire boy showed the effects of his long exposure and was removed to his home m an exhausted condition and suffering severely, although lie was’ not actually injured. Since breakfast- yesterday morning he had nothing to cat, and the tuneh which had been prepared for him before leaving home was still in his school-bag, untouched. His unenviable position was mad© the more unpleasant by reason of the heavy showers of rain' which fell intermittently throughout the period of his captivity. Despite th e severe strain upon him, it is not considered that the boy’s condition is serious.