Foul Play In Taharoa Mystery

Northern Advocate, 27 May 1938, Page 6

Foul Play In Taharoa Mystery

[Special To “Northern Advocate'’! HAMILTON, This Day.

Dragging operations in a large lake teeming with eels at Taharoa was the main feature of police investigations today into the mystery surrounding the missing storekeeper. Delu Desai, aged about 42. Desai has been missing from Taharoa, Kawhia, since May 7th. Tire police it is understood,, possess definite evidence of foul play, the natuie of which cannot be disclosed at present. Two constables arrived from Wellington today to join the police camn established at Taharoa.

Desaf had been in the Dominion for over 20 years, and lived most of the time near Auckland. He had been at Taharoa for 15 months. His compatriot. Bhagvanji Desai, notified the police of his friend’s disappearance, and has advertised for information as to Desai’s whereabouts.

Additional evidence accumulated shows that Desai never left Taharoa, Over 100 persons in the district have been interviewed. Bhagvanji Desai is no relation to the missing man. Police Augmented. This morning a sergeant and four constables, including two from Auckland 'and two who arrived from Wellington., left for Taharoa to assist Detectives White and Hayes and constables in a more extensive search for the missing man. The police party left in 'a large motor lorry on which was loaded a 20ft boat, fitted with an outboard motor for use on..- the lake, timber sufficient to erect five tents to house those at the police camp, and a number of hurricane lamps. No efforts will, be spared by the police to trace the missing man, and it may yet be found necessary further to augment the police at Taharoa.