BACKBLOCKS MYSTERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2629, 11 October 1909, Page 3

BACKBLOCKS MYSTERY.

YOUNG MAN DISAPPEARS. SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED. A mystery that there is every reason to "fear indicates a tragedy of the backblocks is reported from Raurimu. A few days ago (reports the “New Zealand Herald”) the Auckland police learned that a young man named Julius Worms, 21 years <ff age, had mysteriously disappeared. He was returning to Raurimu down the Itetaruke Valley from a place where lie had obtained a job, in order to secure his swag. Arriving at the Retaruke River at Sheehan’s ford, he found tho waters in high flood, and after staying on the bank some time went along to M'* Sheehan’s house, and asked the way over the hills to Campbell’s ford, about two miles further up, and which is not so dangerous to cross as Sheehan’s ford. Mr Sheehan told Worms it would he better to stay with him until the river went down, as it would be impossible to cross anywhere, but Worms said lie would try Campbell’s ford, as he was anxious to get back to his camp. He was shown the way, and this was the last seen of him. The young man’s horse was subsequently found about a-quarter of a mile from Campbell’s ford in a bruised and battered condition, on the other side from where Worms was supposed to have entered the- water. For two days the river was thoroughly searched from Campbell’s ford to the Wanganui River, but no trace could be found of the body, and it is surmised that Worms was carried down the Retaruke River into the Wanganui River, as on the clay he attempted to cross the ford, the current was very strong and rapid, and the river was higher than any of fhe settlers had ever seen it before. AVorms has a brother residing m Clarence-street, Ponsonby.