MISSING BRIDEGROOM

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 4

MISSING BRIDEGROOM

SEARCH UNSUCCESSFUL DISAPPEARANCE AT MIDHIRST. POLICE COMB THE DISTRICT. RUMOURS PROVED GROUNDLESS.

Although rumours were circulating at Stratford yesterday that Stanley Thomas Newland, Wharehuia, the bridegroom who vanished an hour before his wedding, had been found drowned in a river somewhere in the district, no confirmation could be found last night. Speculation as to his fate or whereabouts ran high all Thursday and Friday, and apparently a mere guess developed into a rumour. Search parties were out all yesterday afternoon and evening, and every place where it was thought possible for the missing man to be should he have met with a mishap was thoroughly combed. The missing man, a son of Mr. F. Newland, had breakfast at his father’s home on Beaconsfield Road on Wednesday, the morning for which his wedding had been arranged. After breakfast he took his car to Midhirst, saying that he had had trouble with it the previous night and wanted to have it repaired. Since his leaving the garage at Midhirst no trace of him has been found. The ear was found abandoned on Beaconsfield Road, about half a mile from his home, and it was at first thought that he might have been with Mr. W. Mclver, who was to have been best man at the wedding. When Mr. Mclver arrived at the Newlands’ home, however, he said he had not seen the bridegroom. It is known that the missing man did not leave Midhirst by train, and no taxi-driver remembers having driven him anywhere.

PLANS FOR NEW HOME. According to Mr. T. Webb, his grandfather, Newland and his intended bride appeared devoted, and were looking forward to going to their new home near Whakatane, where Newland had obtained a position. The couple were to leave for Whakatane after the ceremony, and the railway tickets had already been purchased. They remain in the possession of the girl. Under the charge of Constables Hughes and Rae a search party of 42 men worked all yesterday afternoon in the Wharehuia district, combing it thoroughly. Every bush, hedge, gully and creek was explored, all to no effect. Sergeant T. Kelly headed another and smaller, party that searched the rivers in the neighbourhood for miles on each side of Wharehuia, and up till dark had found no trace of Newland. No reason for his disappearance could be given by Newland’s brother, who was interviewed by a News reporter last night. He had not seen- the missing man for a few weeks,' h® said, and had therefore not known everything. about him. Since Wednesday he had with his father gone through all his brothers papers, and still had found nothing to explain the disappearance. It has been found that Newland had before he vanished serit part of the furniture for his new home to Whakatane by rail. This is to be returned following instructions from the police. It is also believed that Newland had not taken out a marriage license up to the time of his disappearance. It was formerly rumoured that he had. left it with some of his effects at a farm at Kaponga, where he was working.