WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13835, 22 February 1909, Page 3

WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

RECOVERY OF BODIES. Per Press "Association. "WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. There seems to be a doubt as to the identification of the body recovered yesterday. Deceased was between 25 and 35 years of age. A discharge was found in his pocket bearing the name of George Cooper, a seaman, formerly belonging to \lie steamer Komata. Cooper's name did not appear amongst , the list of the vessel's crew, and it is thought possible that the discharge may not be his! The body is that of a man oft lOin in height, of medium build, dark brown hair, short nose, pointed chin, and irregular teeth. It was dressed in a dark cloth coat with slit side pockets, no waistcoat, and dark tweed trousers. Another body, that of a man who has not been identified, was washed ashore at Terawhiti to-dav. DESPICABLE CONDUCT.

A mau named John AVilliam Campbell was convicted at the Magistrate's Court to-day of a despicably mean of- [ fence. He was charged with procuring Penguin matinee tickets from J. C. "Williamson's company by false pretences, the value being £2 2s. Accused communicated with one of Mr TV illiamson's clerks ; in the name of "Mr Smith," of Taranaki, and asked if he might get tickets to sell for the relief of sufferers by the wreck. He was sentenced to three mo'ntlis' imprisonment, and on a second charge of procuring 19s Gd worth of cakes by means of false pretences, was sentenced to two' months, the sentences to be cumulative.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. A very heavy southerly gale with a rough sea was blowing to-day at the scene of the Penguin wreck. This afternoon another body, identified as that of Noel White, a passenger from Blenheim, came ashore, two miles on the city side of Oterangi Bay. The body recovered yesterday has been identified as that of Edwin Herbert Hall, second cook on the Penguin.

The body picked up on Friday and stated to be that of George Cooke, is now stated by the police to be that of Forth Rotherham Cooke, aged 20, son of Mr Cooke, solicitor, Wanganui, where the remains are being sent for burial.

The relief fund is now over £llOO. A benefit matinee of "The Red Mill" yesterday, by the Williamson Opera Company, brought ill nearly £3OO. The Union Company have given £SOO to the Penguin relief fund, quite apart from the prospective legal liability. '