SAFE RETURN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 10

SAFE RETURN

OVERDUE TRAMPERS

NIGHT SPENT OUT

Considerable anxiety which was felt at the failure to return of a party of five young men and women who left their homes in Wellington early yesterday morning to walk around the coast from Island Bay to Red Bocks, was relieved at about 1 o'clock this afternoon when one of the party advised over the telephone that they were all safe. The party, whose ages range from 18 to 25, consisted of Messrs. Roy Woodcock, of Shannon Street, Mount Victoria, and Ken McGill, two daughters and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. I. t»ol* smith, of Brooklyn. All the members of the party were scantily clad, and when they set out they had only sufficient food_f or the day. This morning Mr. J. I. l*<«asmith and Mr. McGill, sen., made an unavailing search at Red Rocks, and, accompanied by others,, they were scouring the country beyond Mr.KuJ*caldie's sheep station, at South Karon when the news of the partys/safe return became known. A shepherd from the Terawhiti sheep station had also been detailed to make a search, and a police party wasin the process ot being organised to conduct a search along the coast and in the hills. CUT OFF BY TIDE. The party were forced tp spend the right in the open through being off by the tide in the vicinity of Red Rocks. One of the young men told^a "Post" reporter today that when darkness set in they decided not to try and find their way along the coast as it was considered too risky.' An attempt was then made to reach Makara or some other settlement by cutting across country, but this was abandoned at about 3.30 this morning. The party had by this time' reached an elevated position, and the lights.of. Petone could-be seen twinkling in the distance. A fire was built and they endeavoured to make themselves as comfortable as possible. At daybreak they descended into a gully and followed a stream until they regained the beach, reaching Happy Valley shorJy after 12.30 o'clock today. All the members of the party were well but exhausted. '

The Rev. T. Fielden Taylor, Wellington City Mission, acknowledges the receipt of a sum of £5, being the proceeds from a card party held in St. Thomas's clubrooms by the "Wellington Suburban Nursing Division, St.- John Ambulance Brigade, Overseas, in aid of the Men's Shelter. ■ ■..': -