SEARCH PARTIES RETURNING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21179, 1 June 1934, Page 12

SEARCH PARTIES RETURNING

CONDITION OF INJURED TRAMPERS TWO MEN STILL IN THE MOUNTAINS The two injured Canterbury College trampers—Messrs Brian Mason and James Lysaght—who were missing for a week in the high country in the Harman Pass region, and who returned lo Christchurch on Wednesday evening, were reported last evening lo be making satisfactory progress. Although Mr Lysaght is still iu hospital, his condition is considered not. to be serious. Mr Mason's wrist, which was thought, to be sprained, is now believed to be broken. The five members of 1 lie- search party I Via I set out. from the Carrington Hut to follow the route of the missing climbers to the Park-Morpeth hut reached Glenthorne Station safely at ,"> p.m. vesterday. They arc Messrs .1. D. Pascoe. B. 11. Stinear, 11. D. Ingle, A. Anderson, and A. Treloar. They are expected to return lo Christchurch this morning. Two other Canterbury College searchers— Messrs F. R. Simpson and Pi. W. Collins, who set otd from the Carrington Hut to let the original five know that Lysaght. and Mason had been found, are still in the mountain?, 'iney were making for the ParkMorpeth hut, bul will probably go no further than the Whitehorn Pass, returning to the Carrington hut. Two members of the search parly, Messrs A. P. Thomson and K. C- West-Wal-fon, who did not go beyond the Carrington Hut, returned lo Christchurch yesterday. Mr J. C. Mcrccr. instructor to the Canterbury Aero Club, who left on an aerial search m one of the club's Moth machines on Wednesday, remained at I-Tokilika yesterday, as lowlying clouds made it. inadvisable to attempt, a return flight lo Christchurch. I'U'. th' r sub crip'ions to Ihe cos! of the search, which amounts to about, ,£-10, were received yesterday, Dr. J. 1 light giving f. 1, and Mr C. E. Foweraker 10 s.

CLIMBING RISKS KM'ENSK 01- SEAKCI-J 'l'lit opinion that mountaineers who undertook climbs in winter should be I for winter conditions was expressed by Mr G. 1:). Mannermg, a former president of (lie New Zealand Alpine Club, and a member of the F,ii!;]j::.!i Alpine Club, when commen'me on Ihe nin-hup to Wes-srs : "ici Mason yesterday. It was difncult to comment, on 'lie actual cause of (lie accident. ho ?;nd. hut, he thought, that tile climbers should both have carried ire-axes, and should have been roped fo; the? descent of the Whitchorn Pats under winter conditions. Under summer conditions the trip, he mi ier; tood, was not difVicult., but, it imci to ho remembered thai, any mountaineering mtis a totally different tiling in winter Consequently every precaution should be inlcm, not. only in the actual climbinrr, but. m enrryinj; adcomi'e equipment. of Cost Sender', oul search partii s was expensive A proposal to raise a fund in cover the expenses of such searches !r-.d been placed before the Feelers ted ■Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, but ro decision had been reached. PersonMr Manneimg did not. altogether la\our this i. It waf; possible that, l'i;ov-'in.;4 Ihat il 11 icy were lost a search nu'v would olit and would cost '■ i'■ ■''i nothmc, some men might be led t -Tic risks which they would otherwise avoid. Aithourh unforeseen and unavoidable rmrhap: sometimes happened, it. .'-■"merl (o him that in ccnerul mo'unja moorme r»r-rti«?:> s-hould no out at '- ir mni r:; I;, including (he cost of ■''-''b paitie.- Paying lor a search m.;:ht be considered as one of the possible rxpense,-..0f mo'intaineerin?. Mr Manner ins added that he wished to the present, interest m I'lonntaineerim; by youn:; men. Me bad £rea» admiration for what Ihev bad done.