DEATH AMONG SNOW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 286, 14 September 1933, Page 8

DEATH AMONG SNOW.

.CLIMBER ON MOUNT RUAPEHU WANGANUI CITY ENGINEER. (Special to the "Guardian.") WANGANUI, Sept. 12. While climbing the heights of Mount Ruapehu on Sunday, Mr J. S. L. Deem, engineer to the Wanganui City Council, had a sudden heart seizure and died within the space of a few minutes. His wife, Dr> Helen Deem, and Miss E. Rose, matron of-±he Stewart Karitane Home,, Wanganui, who were accompanying Mr Deem up the mountain side, were compelled to leave the body above the Ruapehu Ski Club hut, below the Whakapapa-iti glacier, and return to the Chateau. A party of 12, with police, left early this morning to recover the body. The three left Wanganui on Saturday afternoon and at 8 o'clock yesterday morning they left to climb the mountain, Mr Deem 'suffering the seizure shortly after lunch. Mr Deem was the eldest son of Mr J. W. Deem, Fields Inspector of the Agricultural Department at Palmerston North. He was born at Waimate in 1895, and was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School. Leaving college, he served his time as a surveyor with Mr H. R. Climie, of Hastings. After service at the war Mr Deem continued his studies at Canterbury College, where he took his degree both in civil and electrical engineering, obtaining the degrees of A.M.I.C.E. and A.M.I.E.E. Mr Deem was appointed assistant city engineer at Wanganui in 1927, and, on the retirement of Mr N. Crofton jStaverley, the following year, Mi- Deem succeeded him as city engineer.