FOUL PLAY?

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20509, 27 May 1938, Page 6

FOUL PLAY?

THE MISSING HINDU POLICE DRAGGING LAKE COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH ACTIVITIES GREATLY HAMPERED (special Reporter) KAWHIA, Friday The myetery of the missing Hindu storekeeper, Delu Deeel, who disappeared from Taharoa, about 15 miles south of Kawhia, on May 7, took a aenaetlonal turn to-day when dragging operations were oommenoed in the large lake teeming with eele, that separates the settlement from civilisation. For well over a week police officers, acting under Instructions from Inapeotor O. W. Lopdell, offtoer In oharge of the Hamilton polios dletrlot, end led **y Detective A. J. White, of Hamilton, have been making extensive Inquiries ooneernlng the disappearance of the storekeeper and from the evldenoe that has now been collected at Taharoa, dovetailed with the numerous checking Investigations In tha surrounding district, the police are certain that the Hindu has not left the district. From the start, Detective White and Detective J. Haves have been at Taharoa and earlier this week two constables from Hamilton were despatched to assist in the search. To-day a further party of five officers, three from Auckland and two from Wellington arrived to assist. The missing man is aged about 42 years and he and a compatriot conduct a general store in Taharoa. Desai has been in the Dominion for over 20 years and has lived most of the time around Auckland although he has been at Taharoa for about 13 months. His compatriot, Bhagvanji Desai, notified the police of his friend’s disappearance and has advertised for his whereabouts in Waikato papers. When first notified the police made thorough inquiries all over New Zealand and from the result of investigations throughout the district decided to concentrate on the Taharoa area. Additional evidence has been forthcoming each day to strengthen their suspicions that he has not left Taharoa and these culminated in the discovery of evidence that pointed to foul play. Further assistance was therefore needed and the search has now spread to the lake,

Isolated Settlement The settlement from which the Hindu disappeared is extremely isolated and the only means of communication is either across the lake by boat to a road that leads to Kinokahu or by pack-horse tracks to the sea and by boat frocn there across Kawhia harbour to the township of Kawhia. There are about 100 Maori settlers in the district and the only pakeh&s in the area are the school teacher, Mr H. Rogers, and his wife. It was on Monday; May 9, that Constable G. F. McKenzie, who is stationed at Kawhia, was advised by telephone from Taharoa that Delu Desai was missing and he Immediately made inquiries. The description of the missing man was sent throughout New Zealand and Inspector Lopdell detailed Detectives White and Hayes to continue investigations in the Taharoa area. The organisation of the police search was excellent and with the work painstakingly carried out, evidence was gradually collecting proving that the man had not left the district by either of the only two routes out- Some Idea of the magnitude of the task and of the thorough methods adopted by the officers concerned is gained when it Is realised that over 100 persons were interviewed regarding the movements of the Indian over the week-end when he was last seen.

Other Hindu Questioned The search was gradually narrowed down to a specific neighbourhood and following further vital discoveries by Detectives White and Hayes. Inspector Lopdell proceeded t.o tho scene and questioned the other Hindu. Bhagvanji Desai. who is no relation to the missing man. The inspector took Constables J. Richardson and G. Tait. of Hamilton, with him and left them to help in the search. Unable to spare more men because of the approaching Waikato Winter Show the inspector sought aid from the Commissioner and three men—a sergeant and two constables—were sent from Auckland and two constables were sent from Wellington to lend a hand in the herculean task .of dragging the lake. The additional party arrived to-day. and most of the time was spent in erecting betier accommodation and in establishing a first-class camp.

The two detectives, after their arrival, made a makeshift living room - f the schoolhouse, which was receni’y closed owing to an outbreak of measles. but with the arrival of a large party a proper camp was set up. This was a very difficult work owing to the inaccessibility of the site.

Rugged Country The country in which the search party is working is extremely rugged and broken, and the difficulties confronting the searchers are numerous In the early days the site on which the settlement now stands must have been part of an estuary but throughout the years the mouth has gradually been blocked up until the ebb and flow of the tide was shut out from the estuary ana a lake formed. This lake is over two miles long and is shaped like an anchor. There are grazing lands on some shores, hut others steep banks run straight in 4 o the water- On the side next to the sea there are rows of huge sanddunes. which extend up to the settlement. which is on the other side of the lake from the Kawhia side. These sand-dunes shift with the strength of the wind and searching in this locality is extremely difficult. The two* flanges of the lake that form the head of the anchor are lowlying and covered with raupo and thick weed. \ further example of the wildness of the country is given by the fact that the boats crossing the lake cannot be rowed in some stretches owinc to the raupo but have to be poled along serpentine passages left in the high

standing reeds.

POLICE EQUIPMENT BOAT LEAVES HAMILTON HEAVY DRAGGING GEAR TAKEN Further equipment for the police camp at Taharoa for the officers engaged in the search for Delu Desai, the missing Hindu storekeeper, left Hamilton by motor lorry this forenoon. Timber for the erection of five terns at the settlement was secured In Hamilton and the tents themselves were picked up at Te Awamutu. while the load from Hamilton also included a stout clinker-built boat, together with an outboard motor and supplies of benzine and oil. Special dragging-gear was also taken. comprising heavy wooden frames fitted with six-inch steel spikes, each frame giving a spread drag of about 10ft. These frames are being employed in the dragging operations on the lake at Taharoa. In addition to the equipment mentioned. the lorry to-day also took out supplies of mattresses, straw and wire, for the construction of beds for the searchers, but the framework of the beds themselves will be roughly fash - ioned from ti-tree cut nearer the site of the camp, sijice the difficulties of access militate against the easy transport of stores.