BUSH MURDERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 241, 11 October 1934, Page 8

BUSH MURDERS

MAN HUNT BEGINS. TERROR IN DISTRICT. MAORI GIRL REMOVED. armed men guard homes! (By Telephone. —'"Star" Special Reporter.) RANGITOTO, this day. The whole of this district, which lies •50 miles from Otorolianga and about the same distance from Tc Kufti, is appalled by the murder of three members of one of its most respected families. The murders were apparently committed without motive. 'Die fourth member of the family, who was found iu a cully by the roadside with severe head injuries, is lying in To Kuiti Hospital, and his condition this afternoon was still very serious. The victims are: — DEAD. Mr. German Mortin Davenport, aged US, farmer, Rangitoto. Mrs. Alice Davenport, aged 70, his wife. Albert David Davenport, aged 35, single. INJURED. Edward Lancashire Davenport, aged 2S, single'. ; ' Armed Parties Searching. The. whole countryside . is at_ high tension. Every man is armed and e\ci\ home is barricaded and guarded by armed men at night. Since the discovery of the murders the district has been in a ferment, and a man-hunt on an intensive scale is now in progress. The armed police party has been strongly reinforced by a large number of armed settlers. The search is for Henare Hona, aged 20, a farm hand, who is fairly well educated and was popular in the district. He has been working for Major Westmacott, whose farm is about eight miles from the Davenports, across rough country. He has been there about 1moiiths. Last Friday night Major Westmacott had occasion to speak to Hona concerning an affair with a Maori girl aged about I*3, whose parents live at Otewa. Hona was ;n love with the girl, and wished to marry her, and the "major advised him to wait until he was older. The girl belonged to the Maniapot o tribe, and Hona to the Nga.puhi tribe, which are hereditary enemies. A brother of Hona is married to the sister of the girl.

Last Sunday morning the tribe held a meeting to consider the affair, but at that meeting Hona did not speak in his defence. No decision was reached by the tribe. Hona walked back to Alajor Westmacott's place that night, put "on his territorial uniform, and called on a settler, Air. T. B. Cruickshank. He asked for the loan of a rifle, saying that he was searching for a prisoner who had escaped from Waikeria. Air. Cruickshank thought he was queer, and had seme difficulty in getting him to leave.

Ou Monday morning Major Westmaeott thought that Hona looked a little queer, but the latter went to his work of harrowing. On the farm was another Maori, to whoso wife Hona mentioned that he intended to kill himself. This Maori, Harry Toa, took' the precaution of removing the bolt from a rifle which was in the bedroom.

On Tuesday morning Hona had breakfast with the family, helped with the milking and then went to his bedroom. He came out carrying a .303 rifle. About this time the wife of the other Maori on the farm telephoned from the dairy, about a mile away, saying that she could not make Out what was the matter with Hona. Major Westmaeott started for the dairy, and on the way met a Maori, who produced, the bolt from the rifle. He explained that he had taken it so that Hona could not shoot himself.

A Shot Heard. Hona had gone, and the major called one of his neighbours, Mr. P. A. Mussen, and together they began a search' for him. They reached a high point of the country, and then they heard a shot. They were puzzled, because they knew that tho bolt of the rifle had been removed. They picked up a track which led into dense bush, but they could not follow it, and they returned home.

They went into Hona's bedroom and found some letters. One was addressed "To Whoever Enters This Room." An extract read: "Dead. Do not look for my body. Douglas Cyclone." Major Westmaeott then informed the police by telephone.

Girl Removed to Otorohanga. A report was circulated this 'morning that shoe prints had been discovered 011 the road at Orewarewa. There were no nail marks, and, as it is known that the

Loots worn by the Maori who is being sought have no nails, it is surmised that ihe native is making back to Otewa, where the girl resided.

The search is now being pushed in that direction. The country is much more open in that district, although covered with rough bush. . The police are confident that they will capture the fugitive if he makes an appearance in the Gtewa district.

The girl in the. meantime has . beeir removed to Otorohanga. I

The search'for Hona may prove extremely arduous, and long-drawn. In every direction there are square miles of standing bush, steep hillsides and precipitous valleys. To comb the area thoroughly a much stronger force would be necessary. Hona is a good bushman, expert at catching eels and trout, which abound in the streams, and he might easily "live on the country" for some time.

This afternoon every settler met with had a revolver sticking out of his belt. Maoris, too, were carrying firearms.