SKELTON FOUND

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3273, 2 March 1937, Page 5

SKELTON FOUND

j BURIED Otf FLAT f PROBABLY OF GREAT AGE . i ■ - The discovery of a human skeleton buried only 18 inches under the soil was made on Carter's Flat yesterday by Mr John Segedin. It was unearthed later in the day by Constable C. H. Maisey and Mr P. T. Glanville, and the remains removed in a box. It was at first thought that the bones were only fifteen to twenty years old, but a closer inspection revealed that they had probably been in the ground for a much longer period. Mr Segedin, of the firm of Matos and Company, on whose property the skeleton was found, had been digging a trench to bury some rubbish when he Unearthed what appeared to be sheep bones. However i when the skull was brought to view *>fee-realised that the bones were human and he immediately notified the police. When digging was continued, the earth was thoroughly sieved and practically the complete skeleton uncovered. From the size of the bones and the well-worn teeth it would appear that the remains were Of an elderly person of small stature. In sieving the soil, a close scrutiny was kept to locate any articles that may have, been on the body, but nothing was brought to view. The position where the skeleton was found is about a quarter of a mile up the Karapiro Stream from its junction with the Waikato River and close to the edge of a steep bank running down to the water. A few years ago the locality was a mess'of broom and gorse, but Messrs Matos and. Co. have cleared an area in connection with their skin curing plant. ; The police have charge of the skeleton at present.