NET TIGHTENING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 6, 18 October 1941, Page 6

NET TIGHTENING

GRAHAM NEAR MT. DOUGHBOY. CUT OFF BY FLOODED RIVER. FOOD STOLEN FROM HOUSE. (P.A.) GREYMOUTH, October 17. The net being drawn round Stanley Eric George Graham, the 41-year-old Koiterangi farmer wanted for the killing of four members of the Police Force and two civilians, appears to be tightening. Eighty police, about 50 Home Guards, and nearly 50 members of the military forces are converging on a position which seems to indicate his whereabouts. A further development in the search was the discovery early this morning that the homestead of Mr Lindsay Cron, near Mount Doughboy, about a mile on the Koiterangi side of the Kokatahi River, had been entered during the night and a quantity of biscuits, a tip of fruit and a quantity of eggs stolen. The biscuits were insufficient to provide a decent meal for a hungry man, but the fruit and eggs would make up for this deficiency. Odd fragments of food left in the house also were taken and apparently eaten. Mr Cron’s house is situated in an extremely rough part of the valley but has access to Koiterangi by a good metalled road. He and his family, although at home during the daytime, sleep at a neighbouring house for safety, and the house was unguarded. It is about two miles from Stopforth’s sawmill, where there are a number of men. The discovery is taken as a certain indication that Graham is hard pressed to find sufficient to eat. Mr Cron’s house is only a short distance from where, on Wednesday, a heifer was discovered shot, with about 101 b of meat removed. With this quantity of food, which he may eat raw or be able to cook in a limestone, cave during the night, Graham could carry on for perhaps a few days, but his chances of escape do not appear to be very great. Area Well Guarded. The Commisioner of Police (Mr D. J. Cummings) spent considerable time in the district to-day arranging the disposition of the police and guards in the most favourable places at close intervals. The whole area is now well guarded with good lines of communication. The prevention of further loss of life is the first consideration, and the watch over each house and look-out is based on this provision. Graham’s chances of escaping from the vicinity in which he is now known to have been on Thursday night or this morning are limited by the fact that on one side he must cross the Kokatahi River, which is considerably flooded owing to the heavy rain on Thursday and overnight, while on the other hand he must face many heavilyarmed guards if he hopes to make his way back toward his own home on the same flat. The Air Force bomber plane which has been at Hokitika since Saturday has left on its return to Nelson. With the exception of two days when flying conditions and visibility were * unsuitable, the plane has made daily reconnaissances over the district piloted by Pilot-Officer McCormack. Nights Intensely Cold. Intense cold was experienced in the Koiterangi-Valley on Thursday night, and there are indications that the conditions to-night will be similar. There have been heavy late falls of snow on the western side of the Southern Alps, and the passes to the eastern side of the ranges are now under heavy snow. After Thursday’s rain, the guards in various parts of the district are experiencing trying conditions, but their health has remained good. Inspector Sweeney, of Wellington, has Contracted influenza and is confined to his room. Detective-Ser-geant C. H. Davis, of Greymouth, who has been a patient in tlie Westland Hospital with measles, has now recovered and returned to duty at Koiterangi.

There was fine weather to-day in the district with excellent visibility, but no sign was seen of Graham, who has been missing for 10 days. The condition of Mr G. S. Ridley is unchanged.

CHECKING-UP OF HUTS. GENERALLY WELL-STOCKED. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A systematic check-up of huts in the Doughboy region was continued to-day in the man-hunt, but there was evidence to suggest that the police were prepared to wait for Graham to disclose his whereabouts without themselves taking the initiative and running the almost certain risk of further bloodshed. Many of these huts are scattered over a wide district and are used by deer-stalkers as headquarters for expeditions in the bush. Thev are generally well-stocked with provisions, bedding, ammunition and spare clothing, and perhaps would remain unoccupied for months at a time. A typical example of what the police are doing occurred yesterday afternoon. A hut- owned by Mr E. Shannon on Doctor’s Creek, in the Hokitika Gorge, south of Koiterangi, was entered by a search party. Mr Shannon had been overseas for some months, but in the hut were found a .22 single-shot rifle, fuse, gelignite, tea, tinned milk, sugar, flour, blankets, camp cooker, and clothing of every description. This hut had evidently been unoccupied since last July.

Admiration of the action of Mr G. S. Ridley, agricultural instructor to schools in the Canterbury Education district, in going to the assistance of the police at Koiterangi, was expressed in a motion passed by members of the

Canterbury Education Board yesterday- , The motion was: “That this board expresses its admiration at Mr G. S. Ridley’s courageous action in going to the assistance of the police at Koiterangi, and hopes that lie will soon he restored to health and strength. It was decided to send a telegram to Mr Ridley, embodying the resolution.