MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3499, 5 April 1921, Page 22

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

AUCKLAND, April 1. The mysterious disappearance of Patrick Richard Elliott, about 35 years old, a platelayer employed at the Taupo iotara limber Company's railway, from Ongaroto last Sunday is being investigated by the police. Foul play is feared. Ongaroto is a small milling township about seven miles from Atiamuri. Elliott lived in. a w hare near the station. A young Maori named Haicaraia Te Kahu, a returned soldier and platelayer, employed by the same company, oo cupie’d the adjoining whare. On Sunday both men went shooting along the banks ot the Waikato River, calling at a farm and borrowing a sporting dog. Elliott is stated to have promised to return for tea. During the afternoon several shots were Heard in the vicinity of ihe river. Elliott did not call in for tea as promised, and, as he was not seen by Thursday morning, the neignbours became a-uxious, and a seaich party was instituted. The country is wild and rugged, and difficult to search, and no trace of the missing man was found until a, dog with one of the party discovered a dead wild duck on the bank of the river a short distance above some rapids. A closer investigation revealed bloodstains on the stones near the water ,and also on a ti-tree over 20 yards back from the river. Dragging operations have been in progress without success, and will be resumed to-day with appliances suitable for deep water. Ihe Maori stated to the police that ha and Elliott returned home after being out shooting. The next morning he saw Elliott in the latter’s whare. The Maori then went to Alokai, and returned to Ongaroto on Tuesday morning. When asked where Elliott was ho stated that he saw him last in the whare before leaving for Mokai on the previous day Elliott is reported to have had a large sum of money in his possession. He suffered from neuritis, and may have accidentally shot himself and fallen into the river; but the police view is that there has been foul play. Some of the ti-tree is to he examined by experts to ascertain whether the blood is human or animal.