BOY MISSING IN NORTH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28618, 21 June 1958, Page 12

BOY MISSING IN NORTH

Police Search Continues

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20.

Hope has not yet been abandoned that Keith Neal, aged four, who -disappeared at Titahi bay late yesterday afternoon may be found alive. The full-scale search, which began last night continued throughout today and into tonight, without any trace of . .the missing boy being found. Inspector O. Hansen, who was in charge of the search today, said tonight that there was still a strong possibility that the boy might be alive. A Maori boy was reported tonight to have said he saw the boy going up a' track toward a farm on the hills at about 5.30 p.m. yesterday. That area is now being closely checked. The search of the gorse-covered hills behind the Porirua pa will continue tomorrow.

A party of about 50 Red Cross personnel from the Wellington area, will leave for Titahi Bay at 7 a.m. tomorrow and they will be accompanied by members of the Legion of Frontiersmen. A group of senior" detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch went to Titahi Bay today to check the possibility that the boy had been kidnapped. Tonight, Detective Inspector W. S. Craigie, officer-in-charge of the Wellington C. 1.8., said: “As far as we can see at present, there is no suspicion of foul play.” Ground parties were supplemented today by a Piper aircraft of the Wellington Aero Club and a group of skin-divers who searched part of the Porirua harbour.

The boy was last seen by his father about 4 p.m. yesterday among gorse bushes behind the Porirua pa. With two other boys, he had left his home in Waianga crescent, Titahi Bay, and crossed an area of swampy ground to the gorse-covered hillside near the pa. It is believed the boys hid in the gorse from some Maori children and that when the other boys came out Keith remained behind. He was not seen again.