FLOCK-HOUSE BOY MISSING; COAT FOUND IN RIVER-BED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 10

FLOCK-HOUSE BOY MISSING; COAT FOUND IN RIVER-BED.

Robert Noah Reginald Arler, a Flock House boy, aged eighteen, has for the last year and a half been working on the farm of Mr J. Little at Hilton, near Geraldine. On Friday last he was sent to cut Californian thistles on the bed of the Kakahu River. On his failing to return for lunch, search was made by Mr Little and his men, but without avail, and later Mr F. Charles and others, including Constable Cullanan, joined in the search, which was continued till midnight and resumed on Saturday. As the river continued to rise, owing to frequent rains, the search proved difficult.

A letter was found which had apparently fallen out of the j'outh’s pocket, and on Sunday dragging operations were continued, without success, the river having risen still higher. Yesterday morning, Messrs C. and A. Toomey found, on the river-bed, a coat which belonged to the missing lad, and from this there appears to be little hope of finding him alive.