SEARCHERS OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 8

SEARCHERS OUT.

MISSING ACCOUNTANT.

PARTIES IN RANGES.

TBAMPERS ASSIST POLICE. Between 40 and 50 people are searching the West Coast in the Piha, Anawhata and Kerikeri localities in an effort to find the Auckland accountant, Mr. Eric M. Edgar, who has been missing from his home at 12, Eilerton Road, Mount' Eden, since Monday. The search is being led by Constable P. R. Boag, of New Lynn, who is assisted by members of the Alpine Sports Club and the Auckland Tramping Cl'jb, as well as by friends of Mr. Edgar and about half a dozen fiol'ce.

* Two parties actually were out this morning. The one, which left Piha about ten o'clock this morning, will make a direct line between Piha and Anawhata, while a smaller party, composed of persons living at Piha, Anawhata and Kerikeri, who are thoroughly intimate with the locality, combed the more dangerous area between the top of the Piha Hill and Kerikeri, including the environs of Mercer Bay.

A small search was made yesterday of the rocks along the Piha Beach, but it was not extensive.

As far as is known, Mr. C. E. Le Grice, proprietor of the boardinghouse at Piha, was the last man to see Mr. Edgar. Mr. Le Grice said over the telephone this rfiorning that Mr. Edgar arrived at Piha on Monday morning by the service car. He told Mr. Le Grice that he was going to Anawhata, but at 11.40 a.m. on Monday he was seen walking past Lion Hock north along the beach, which would take him in the opposite direction to where he said he was going. Mr. Edgar has not been seen at Kerikeri or Anawhata.

It .was stated this morning also that Mr. Edgar had informed the driver of the car in which he travelled to the coast that he would pick him up on Tuesday on the road near Kerikeri. Mr. Edgar had not said exactly where he would rejoin the car, or at what time. The driver was simply to expect him.

Mr. Edgar knows the West Coast intimately. He ha*: been there many times, and has many friends there.

About twelve motor oars containing the searchers drew up on the flat near Piha Bench vliis morning shortly before ton o'clock. The passengers conferred and drew un a plan of campaign.