A MYSTERIOUS FINDING OF HUMAN REMAINS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8799, 7 June 1890, Page 2

A MYSTERIOUS FINDING OF HUMAN REMAINS.

Apout five o'clock on Sunday evening, Junej2, says the Dunedin Herald, Constable Groves, of Caversham, who was on duty at St. Clair, was apprised by some boys of a number of bones on one of the sand hills abcut 5 minutes' walk to the northward of the St. Clair Hotel. He immediately proceeeded to the spot indicated and found a heap of bones all bleached with exposure lying on the sand near the top of one of the hills. He removed them to the Cavershain Station, and next morning Sergeant-major Ramsay had them conveyed to the hospital. Here, Dr. Copland evamined them and pronounced them to be the remains of a human being about sft 7in in height. There were portions of the backbone, the small bones of the leg and of the arm, two pieces of the collar bone, two kneecaps, a number of ribs and the bones of the fingers and toes, also a portion of the skull. There were also several other very small bones, but none of the large limbs. All the bones were very much bleached and corroded, and must have been lying where they were discovered for a considerable number of years. It is supposed that the body was buried on or near the top of one the sandhills, and as the hills are gradually lowering year by year by the action of the wind the bones, in the course of time, became exposed. Another suggestion is that they were washed by the waves to the spot where they were found, but this theory is somewhat improbable, as they were discovered very high up on the hill, and the bones all heaped up ; whereas if they were washed up by the waves they would in all probability be scattered over the beacb. The medical gentleman is unable to determine whether the bones belong to a male or female, but the police intend to further search the spot where they were found.

The serenity and dignity of the Courthouse was greatly upset this (Saturday) morning by an impromptu dog fight, which, happily, however, was nipped in the bud. It happened thus . — One dog was in the Courthouse where he is a constant attendant, when another dog of a different species, sauntered in to have a look round. The visitor had gained about the centre of the floor when the other dog saw him, and the latter thinking this trespass j ■was an infringement of his time-honored J rights to stay in the Courthouse, at once took prompt measures to eject the intruder. He got up and made a rush at the visitor, who proving " a plucked "un" also showed battle, and a lively dog fight appeared in prospect. They had just taken a preliminary hold, and had raised the cocoanut matting several feet off the floor in their endeavours to get a grip on each other, when a rush was made to separate them. The visitor was laid hold of by someone, and one of the counsel engaged in the case with great promptitude caught hold of the other's tail, pulled him off, and held him till the intruder was turned out. Quiet was then restored.