A MAN MISSING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 11

A MAN MISSING.

XOUL PLAY SUGGESTED. ] / » 1 • . . (PRESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, April 1. The mysterious disappearance of Patrick Rickird Elliott, about thirtyfixe years of age, a platelayer employed on the Taupo-Totara Timber Company's • railway from Ongaroto, last- Sunday, is : being investigated by the police. Foul play is feared. Ongaroto is a small milling township about seven miles from Ataiamuri. Elliott livc.d in a - i wliarO': near the station. _A joung (jVLaori named Hakaraia to Knliu, a rc- ■ turned soldier and platelayer employeu by the same company, occupied "the «id- - •iouiing W'hure. On Sunday Ix>tli men •went shooting along tho tanks of the » Wnikato river. Thoy' called at a ; farm and borrowed a sporting dog, Elliott, a" -."it is-statted, proipising to return,for lea. During the afternoon several shots were heard in the vicinity of the river. Elliott did not call in for his tea as lie promised, and as he ivas not seen by Thursday morning the neighbours became anxious, a-search, was instituted!) The country is wild and rugged •and' difficult' to search. No trace of the missifig man was found until a dog with ■ v, <pne'6f the party discovered a dead wild 'duck on the bank of the river, shot some distance above some rapids. Closer i investigation revealed bloodstains on A the etonfes near the water," also on the ti-tree for over twenty yards back from tlhb Tiver. Dragging operations ;frav;e been in progress, so far without success. - r and, will be resumed to-day with ap- ■ ' pliances suited to the deep water, r The Maori stated to tho police that ho and Elliott/returned home after be'ing out shooting. The next morning he saw Elliott in his (Elliott's) whare. The Maori then went to Mokai, and return-: 7,ed-to Ongarqto 'on- Tuesday- mprning. • He tyaa askedwKere Elliott was, and 6tated that he saw him iast in Jiis whare. before leaving for Mokai the pre- ' day. - Elliott is reported to have had a large sum of money in his possession. He from neuritis, and 1 there is a possibility of suicide or that ' he had accidentally shot himself; and! 5 fallen into the' river, but the police . view is that there has been foul play. 1 1 Some of the ti-tree is. to be examined by ' experts to Ascertain whether t!he blood ;is human or animal: