FOUND SHOT

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19785, 16 January 1936, Page 6

FOUND SHOT

TE WHAITI CONSTABLE. DISCOVIRV IN WHARE-\\'ELL-K.\'O\\'N L'RE“'EB.\ OFFICER Following the receipt 0! a note, rosidonto or To Wholtl found the dead body o! the dlurlct. oonmblo for tho Uroworn country, Hugh M. McPherson, mad about. 44 yarn. in a lonely where in the township at. six o’clock this morning. Death had been caused by a bullet wound in the hood apparently selflnfilotod. Senior—Sergeant Carroll. 0! Rotorun, left this morning for Te \\‘haili lo conduct an investigation and, on ac—count or the remoteness ot the territory only meagre details of the tragedy were known this afternoon. First news was contained in a note received by the Rotorua police from a woman resident of Te Whaiti, i.) which it was stated that 1 letter allegedly written by Constable McPherson had suggested suicide. Investigations were made and the b_ody was found in a shanty in the township to which the searchers had been directed by instructions in the constables letter. Life was then extincta and an extensive bullet wound ‘ was found in the constable‘s head.

Constable McPherson, who has been a member of the force for 13 years, was well—known in the Urewex-a country and was esteemed by a wide and scattered community of Maui-is. Although omcially stationed at Te Whaiti his duties took him into the remotest areas or the hill country and his knowledge of the district was widely respected by settlers and trampers. Invariably shooting expeditions traversing the Urewera country sought his advice before tramping into the bush country.