SEARCHERS OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1934, Page 8

SEARCHERS OUT.

TRAMPERS MISSING.

SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN TRIP. MEN FiRQM AUCKLAND PROVINCE. (By Telegraph'.—Press Association.) CHKISTCIIUKCII, this day. Two members of the University Tramping Club, Messrs. James F. Lysaght and Brian Mason, left Arthur's Pass nine days ago for the Carrington Hut, to make the three-pass trip to Hokitika. They have not been heard of since, and anxiety is felt at theii piolonged absence. Mr. Lysaght is 20 years of age and is a fourth-year forestry student at G<interburv College. It is understood that his home is at Tauranga. Mr. Mason is 19 years of age and is a first-year student. He is a son of Mr. George H. Mason, wiio in College Street, Ponsonbv, and is senior partner in the firm of Mason Bros., Engineering Co., Ltd., Freeman's Bay. „ At noon to-dav Messrs. James J?.. Lysaght and Brian Mason were still missing, despite a search of a portion of the snow-clad mountainous region between the head of the Waimakariri River and the West Coast into which thev entered eight days ago expecting to reach Hokitika by May 24. They are now five days overdue. The weather recently is stated to have been very rough, with much snow, but it is fine now. Both men were experienced trampers and were well prepared for the trip. Search of Huts. The searchers assume that they would [leave messages regarding their movements at huts which they readied. By following a chain of lints the searchers hope to find some trace of the missing men in a short time by conducting a search from both terminals of the route. It is also hoped to save time in this way.

Should no trace be found of the men by 7 o'clock this evening it is intended to call up volunteers for a much larger search party. Heavy storms raged on May 21 and" 22, and anyone would have little chance of getting through the Harnian Pass on those days.

Messrs. Lysaght and Mason left Arthur's Pass on Sunday, May 20, and it was the intention to leave the Carrington Hut last Monday. Their route would be through Tiapoiti Gorge, Harman Pass, Whitehorn Pass, down Cronin River, up Wilberforce River and Browning Pass. One day's journey from the Carrington Hut would bring them to the Park-Morpeth Hut at the junction of the Cronin and Wilberforce Rivers, and another day is usually occupied in reaching the third hut before entering Browning Pass. Depending on the. route then followed, one or two days' tramping should be taken in reaching Ilokitika. Weather as Factor. It is not Known yet whether the two' trampers were permitted by the weather to carry out their programme of leaving the Carrington Hut last Monday. A party consisting of Messrs. B. Stevens, B. W. Collins and H. D. Ingle went to the Carrington Hut this morning to find out when Messrs. Lysaght and Mason left there. The weather was not good at the beginning of last week and it is possible that the missing men did not leave as soon as was intended. It is known that at both the Carrington and Park-Morpeth huts there are reserves of food supplies, and it is possible that there is also a cache of food at the hut built by the Unemployment Board near Browning Pass. ,