RIFLE FOUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 4

RIFLE FOUND

ONE OF GRAHAM’S WEAPONS SHOT HEARD ON HILL UNCONFIRMED REPORTS (Special) HOKITIKA, Oct. 14. To-day’s sensation in the search for Graham was the reported finding of a rifle which has been in the possession of Graham since the first murders. It is stated to have been found in a bush area by a party of four searchers. This is a .303 rifle which is owned by a neighbour l of Graham, Mr B. Cropp. Graham took it from Mr G. S. Ridley when the latter ran to the assistance of the four policemen when Graham fired at them. Secrecy Observed

The deepest secrecy has been pbserved about the finding of the rifle and no indication has been given as to the part of the bush in which it was found. In fact the information was not given out by the police at all. The finding leads to the belief that Graham through wounds or fatigue finds that he has too many weapons to carry. He still has his deadly Mauser. It is stated that a shot was heard on a distant spur on Mount Camelback this afternoon, but this report has not been confirmed. A party of searchers was in that area at the time. There are no further details. Position of Home Guardsmen

Advice to the Hokitika Home Guard that, if they went out again at Koiterangi, they went as civilian volunteers and that there was no compensatory provision for them in the Home Guard organisation was given by the acting leader of the guard, Mr T. Mitchell. It is understood that he was oassing on advice received from Dominion headquarters. Mr Mitchell said to-night that it was purely coincidental that Home Guard members .were in the second night’s shooting as members of the guard. They were all residents of the district, and when they went to their Home Guard parade they heard of the tragedy and went along to help, not so much because they were Home Guardsmen, but because thev were residents and had to do what ‘they could. They worked under the direction of the police. The Hokitika men went out later to relieve the Koiterangi men. Mr W. Eastgate, who at the time of the tragedy was the battalion commander of "the Home Guard at Hokitika. did not attend to-night’s meeting of the guard, and would make no statement on the position. A DEER CULLER’S OFFER (Special) HOKITIKA. Oct. 14. An elderly deer culler, who travelled all the way from Dunedin to Koiterangi to place his proposition before the police, offered to go into the bush and stalk Graham alone. His offer was not accepted, however, on account of the danger. , This offer was the most practical of the many suggestions for the capture or killing of Graham which have been received by the police. They include the use of gas and the services of a water diviner. All have been rejected by the police.