SEARCH IN THE BUSH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1934, Page 10

SEARCH IN THE BUSH

MISSING MAORI YOUTH

THE RANGITOTO SHOOTING

FOURTH VICTIM DIES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

TE KUITI, This Day,

Apart from the fact that Edward Lancashire Davenport died in the Te Kuiti Hospital last evening, bringing the number of victims to four, no tangible development has occurred in connection with the Eangitoto tragedy.

A dozen police are camped in a whare near the burned homestead. The bush is so dense that it is impossible to penetrate far in the search for the missing Maori. A revolver that has not been accounted for may be in the debris of the fire. Preparations have been made for an extended stay by the police on the spot, as the search may be long and arduous for'the missing Maori. He is a member of the Ngapuhi tribe, and was born at Hokianga twenty years ago. He worked for Major Westmacott for the last twelve months, and has always been regarded as a good youth and was well liked by members of the local Maniapoto tribe. He was a member of the Territorials at Otorohanga, and very proud of his uniform. SUGGESTION OF SUICIDE. Major Westmacott said mat the youth returned home on Sunday night and went to his quarters near the dairy, a mile from Major Westmaeott's hnuse. When the day's work started the youth appeared to be very gloomy. A note was found in his room suggesting that he intended to commit suicide. On the suggestion of Harry Toa, another employee of Major Westmacott, Tommy Joseph removed the bolt from a rifle in the youth's room. The youth assisted with the milking on Tuesday morning, and a little later Mrs. Joseph telephoned Major Westmacott from the dairy stating that the youth had disappeared and had taken the rifle with him. Major Westmacott immediately called his two employees and a neighbour and organised a search. The country surrounding Major Westmacott 's and Mr. Mussen 's homes is extremely hilly, and there is a great deal of dense bush. The four men formed two parties and scoured the hills to the south of Rangitoto Mountain. A shot was heard, and the opinion was formed that the searchers were under observa tion by the missing man, and that the shot was fired as a gesture of defiance. The party, which was unarmed, concentrated on the point from which the shot was fired, and two members came across the tracks of a man in the dense bush. These had the appearance of having been made by a man in a great hurry, and were traced for a mile through the bush and a swamp. Tho tracks led towards the Davenport property eight miles away in a direct lino over the hills. The day was drawing to a close, and the search was discontinued. DISCOVERY OF THE TRAGEDY. In the meantime the police were advised and the Davenports were communicated with. Late that evening the police went out to the Davenport's home and discovered the tragedy. Major Westmacott states that he knew of no grievance that the missing youth had against the Davenports, and he can assign no reason for the terrible attack made on the family. It has bince been learned that the boy called at the home of Mr. I. B. Cruickshank at Otewa at 11 p.m. ou Sunday. Ho asked for a rifle, stating that ho wanted it to capture a bandit. The request was refused and considerable pressure had to be brought to bear on him before he would leave. Among the effects found in the young man's room was a pathetically-worded note of farewell written in versa. A sheaf of letters received from a girl with whom he was apparently infatuated was also found. As a precaution tho girl has been taken by her parents to Otorohanga. The funeral of the four victims takes place this afternoon when all business places in Te Kuiti will be closed for an hour as a mark of respect.