THE MAN-HUNT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 5, 17 October 1941, Page 6

THE MAN-HUNT

RAIN HAMPERS THE SEARCHERS CLUE FROM A SHOT HEIFER. SLICE OF MEAT TAKEN. (P.A.)* GREYMOUTH, Oct, 16. Heavy rain which fell in the Koiterangi district throughout to-day hampered searching operations for the' wanted Koiterangi farmer, Stanley Graham, who has been missing since Wednesday, October 8. Although an intensive search was continued from daylight till dusk, no further trace of Graham was found. To-day’s weather was the worst encountered by the searchers since they commenced work last week. Thick scrub and bush afforded no shelter, but they worked incessantly all day over a wide area. The Commissioner of Police (Mr D. J. Cummings) spent the greater part of the day with the search parties, and himself penetrated many miles into bush country where Graham is still believed to be hiding. Mr Cummings said this evening that the conditions under which the search had to be carried on were almost indescribable.

It was stated officially this evening that a discovery made on Wednesday, which led to the belief that Graham was in a certain vicinity and still active was a two-year-old heifer which had been shot, and from which a slice had been cut off the hindquarters and taken away. The beast had been killed only a matter of some hours, and was found near Mount Doughboy, which by road is about seven miles from. Graham’s homestead, and between three and four miles in a direct line. The knowledge that it is highly improbable that there were other people in the bush area round Mount Doughboy points to Graham having been the person who destroyed the beast. By to-day’s express from Christchurch 14 regular soldiers arrived from Burnham to assist in the search. It is understood that they will not be placed immediately in the Koiterangi district, but will remain at Hokitika, within easy distance, ready for any call on their services which the police might make. The men are fully equipped, and include machine-gunners and men experienced in the use of Tommyguns. Several formerly lived on the West Coast. The Greymouth and Hokitika Patriotic Commitees have made available supplies of tobacco, cigarettes, and cigarette papers for Army personnel engaged in the search. Some of the men have already been away from camp nearly a week. There is practically no change in the condition of Mr G. S. Ridley, who was injured at the time of the original shootings. He is still on the seriously ill list in the Westland Hospital. No immediate improvement in the weather is forecast, but to-morrow’s searching will be carried on with the utmost “vigour in spite of the conditions. Safety precautions have been tightened, as apparently Graham is still reasonably fit and well. Armed searchers are scouring the country in groups of three as additional protection.

THE SEARCH MORE INTENSE. SNOW FALLS ON THE RANGES. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day With the tracks of a man found in the Doughboy region, the hunt for Stanley Graham became more intense to-day in the area east of Kioterangi. It was the tenth day of the search. Armed searchers were out over a wide area, combing the bush and reconnoitring huts on the hillside, where armed guards were left last night. Pouring rain from the north-west fell during the night, but early this morning a south-west change swept the clouds away and the day was brilliantly sunny with little wind. Snow fell on the ranges and would reduce to zero Graham’s chance of making a break over Browning Pass.