The Missing Children.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4674, 23 April 1883, Page 3

The Missing Children.

FINDING OF A BODY. The story of the missing childron, David Mason and Arohibald Lilly — whioh has frequently been mentioned in theso columns, has, it is to be feared, been doomed to a most pitiable termination. On Sundsy evening, about five o'clook, a young man named Jamos Courtney, a blaoksmith, employed at the Addington workshops, came lo ConstableM'Gili, at Phillipstown, and Btatc-J that ho had soon the body of a boy lying far up on tbe Port Hills, a mile or so from Mr Murray - Aynßley's residence. Const abbe M'QUI, Daly, and M'JLeary, accompanied by tho informant, started for tho spot indicated io tho police trap, at about 7 p.m. Tho trap woe left at Mr Murray- Aynsloy's, and tho patty ascended tho hills. About two miles up, near the summit, and lying some distance off a cart track leading to somo quarries, f ••••)• found the body of a boy, who had cv; : cntly boen about ten years of ogo. The bo.-iy was lying upou ita back, and presented a ---ost frightful up-pearftuca owing to advanced decomposition. In tho hands was clasped v bamboo stick, apparently part of a boy's fishing-rod. The party bore the remains down tho hill to thtir trap, and conveyed them to tho morgue. From an inspection there made, the police have littld doubt that this is the body of one ef the two boys above referred to, who loft their hemes on March 30 last. Tho body is that of n boy about the Rgo of Mason, and ib drossed in a --iekerbocker suit, moleskin trousers and vest with dark jacket ; a dark soft felt hat wbb found near it. Up to lato last night tho body had not positively boon identified, but it may be mentionod that when Lilly loft homo he h&d money air en him to pay hia faro to Port, whither ho intended going for a day's fishing. No money was found ou tho body, but as Mason and Lilly were soon togothor iv Ohristohuroh after they were missed by their parents, it ia not improbable that tho boys had spent what money they and had then started to walk over the hills, and, at loast in tbe case of one of them, missed tho way and died from exhaustion. As it is concluded that tho body found is that of one of thn missing boya, the gravest apprehensions aro felt for hia companion, and three constables will start for the hills oarly thiß morning to search tho locality, and if possible set all doubts at rest. Ibis morning the body found on the hills last evoDitig was identified as tbat of the boy .Mason by his mother and her two sisters. An inquest will bo hold on it to-morrow. About 6 a.m. to-day, Constables Johnston, Oleary, and Daly started in tho police trap to search the Port Hills for tho remains of tho other lad, Lilly, who left his homo together with Mason. They took a stretohor with them, and proceeded in tho first instance to Mr Murray -Ajnsley'e, whore thoy loft their vehicle. They then went to the spot whoro Macon's body had beon found, end Boparatcd, searching tbe hills iv all directions for a considerable distance round, fically working thoir way to the top of tho rango and over to Baupaki, without finding tho slightest traeo of the missing lad. From Baupuki tho party proceeded to Lyttelton, and returt.od by train to town about noon. Tho seu-cli is boing continued by Mr Lilly, father of tho boy, and a large party of volunteers.