TAHAROA FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23215, 8 December 1938, Page 14

TAHAROA FIRE

STORE DESTROYED MYSTERY RECALLED MISSING INDIAN CASE FORMER PLACE OF WOKK [nr telegraph —own correspondent] KAWHIA, Wednesday The small corrugated-iron store at tho remote native settlement of Taharoa, in which tho Indian Dalu Desai was employed before his mysterious disappearance earlier in the year, was burned to the ground during the early hours of this morning. The general store, which contained a fair amount of stock, and tho living quarters at the back were both demolished. The building was owned and occupied by Bhagvanji Desai, another Indian. Long Fruitless Search Detective - Sergeant J. Thompson and Detective "A. J. White, of Hamilton, arrived at the settlement to-day. Detective White was in charge of the long, hazardous and fruitless search for tho missing man, which commenced on May 17 this year and which lasted until about three weeks ago. Dalu Desai, who was employed at t'je store at the time of his disappearance, was reported missing on May 7. Only One Clue Found The search for the missing Hindu, on which no fewer than 30 policemen were engaged at one stage, included the dragging of Lake Taharoa twiea and an extensive combing of the sandhills and scrub on the West Coast with spades and gumspears. Although a neatly wrapped parcel of clothing, which was identified as being the property of the missing man, was unearthed in tho sandhills toward the end of May, no other clues of any importance were ever discovered. Alarm Among Natives The disappearance of Dalu Desai threw the 100 native inhabitants of Taharoa into a state\ of panic and for weeks farming operations were at a standstill. The fire last night has renewed their state of fear. A reward of £250 was offered by the Police Department at the conclusion of the search for information leading to the discovery of the body of Dalu Desai.