RANGITOTO TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22392, 13 October 1934, Page 12

RANGITOTO TRAGEDY

NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS SEARCH FOR MAORI YOUTH EARLIER MOVEMENTS OUTLINED i (Pee United Press association.) TE KUITI, October 12. The only development in the Rangitoto tragedy is the death of the fourth victim, Edward Lancashire Davenport. A dozen police are camped in a whare "car the burned homestead. The bush is so dense that it is impossible to penetrate far in the search for the niissing Maori. A revolver unaccounted for may be in the debris of the fire.

Preparations have been made for an extended stay by the police on the t-pot, as'the search may be long and arduous for the missing Maori, who is a member of the Ngapulri tribe and was born at Hokianga 20 years ago. He worked for Major Westmacott for the last 12 months, was always regarded as a good youth, and was well liked by the members of the local Maniapoto tribe. He was a member of the Territorials at Otorohanga, and was very proud of his uniform.

Major Westmacott said the youth returned home'on Sunday night and went to his quarters near the dairy, a mile from the Westmacotts' house. When the day's work started the youth appeared to be very gloomy. A note was found in his room suggesting that he intended to commit suicide. On the suggestion of Harry Toa, another employee of Major Westmacott, Tommy Joseph removed the bolt from, a rifle in the youth's room. The youth assisted with the milking on Tuesday morning. A little later Mrs Joseph telephoned to Major Westmacott from the dairy, stating that the youth had disappeared and had taken the rifle with him. Major Westmacott immediately called his two employees and a neighbour and organised a search. The country surrounding Major Westinacott's and Mr Mußsen's homes is extremely hilly, and. there is a great deal of dense bush. The four men formed two parties and scoured the hillk to the south of Tiangitoto Mountain, fjjetween. Major Westinacott's and the Davenports' properties. A shot was heard, and the opinion was formed that the searchers were under observation by the missing man, and that the, shot "was fired as a gesture of defiance. The party, which was unarmed, concentrated on the point from which the shot was fired, and two members came across the tracks of a man in the dense bush. These had the appearance of being made by a man in a great hurry, and were traced for a mile through the 'hush and a swamp. The tracks led toward . the Davenport property, eight miles away in a direct line over the hills. ■The day was drawing to a close, and the search was discontinued. In the meantime the police, were advised, and the Davenports were communicated with. Late, that evening the police went out to the Davenports', and discovered the tragedy. Major Westmacott, knew of no grievance that the missing youth had against the Davenports, and could assign no reason for the terrible attack made on the family. It has since been learned that the boy called at the home of Mr T. B. Cruickshank, at Otewa, at 11 p.m. on "Sunday. He asked for a rifle, stating that .he wanted it to capture a.bandit. The request was refused, and considerable pressure had to be brought on the Native before he would leave. Among the effects found in the young man's room was a pathetically-worded note of farewell, written in verse. A sheaf of letters received from a girl with whom he was apparently infatuated was also found. As a, precaution' the girl has been taken by her parents into Otorohanga.

The funeral of the four victims took place this afternoon, when all business places in Te Kuiti were closed for an hour a« a mark of respect.