BUSH TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 220, 29 June 1938, Page 2

BUSH TRAGEDY

DEATH WHILE PIG-SHOOTING. YOUTH’S RESOURCEFULNESS. (Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 28. Alone in the depths of the wild country of Eastern Taranaki with his companion dead, a'youth aged 18 made his way back for help and led a party through, thick bush for many hours to where the body Jay, reaching it at midnight. The tragedy occurred late on Monday afternoon when two men were pig hunting in the back country of Waikaka Valley in the Matiere district. It. Schrieber shot a pig and after lie went forward to find it found that his companion, Mr Thomas Nieol, was not witli him. On returning a short distance he found Mr Nicol dead. Schrieber had to travel three miles over rough and treacherous country before he could! telephone for aid. As he went he blazed trees and had it not been for this the return to the body might have been days.

A party led by Cons'table Bradford, of Ohura, and consisting of N. Morgan, 11. Nodder, W. Waswo, F. Owon. C. Winks, R. Maroin, W. Sovvry and F. Kelly, returned with Schrieber and reached! the body at midnight. They stayed the remainder of the night and this morning took the body to Matiere.

Credit was due to Schrieber for his presence of mind in marking the trail, said Constable Bradford. The country was very rough and the return to Matiere was most difficult.

At the inquest a verdict of heart failure was returned, and it was stated that Mr Nicol had been treated for heart trouble for some time. He was aged 52, was a well-known resident of the district and was a returned soldier.