SEARCH FOR BOY NEAR MAYFIELD

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27961, 7 May 1956, Page 14

SEARCH FOR BOY NEAR MAYFIELD

RANGITATA DIVERSION RACE DRAGGED THREE-DAY HUNT BY 100 VOLUNTEERS - Many of the 100 volunteers who made an intensive search of the Rangitata diversion race and the surrounding country over the week-end for a ' two-and-a-half-year-old boy. missing from his home since early on Friday afternoon, will be out again this morning, the fourth day of the search. Bruce Eric Meaclem, the son of Mr and Mrs D. J. Meaclem, whose home is alongside the diversion race at Klondyke, near Mayfield, was last seen by his mother at lunch time on Friday. To assist the searchers the race, which feeds the Highbank electric power station, was turned off for some hours. The search was called off last evening because of darkness, but will be resumed at daybreak today. Mrs Meaclem last saw her son playing on the lawn in front of her house, which is fenced off. about 30 yards from the diversion r®ce, 1 p.m. on Friday and 10 minutes later he had disappeared. A party of about 100 volunteers, including farmers from all over the Mayfield and Montalto districts, and some helpers from Ashburton, began an intensive search under the direction of Constable I. Rose, of Ashburton. Plantations and Buildings Although the search was concentrated on the Rangitata diversion race, all the surrounding land, plantations and buildings were combed for any sign of the missing boy. On Friday night, arrangements were made to cut off the water in the race. Some of the water was diverted back into the Rangitata river and some into the South Ashburton river, j Although the race had been turned off at the source for some hours, heavily discoloured water was ponded in the bottom of the race, which contained some holes several feet deep. This made the search difficult. Men equipped with waders walked along the bottom of the race for some miles and dragged all the water holes. A boat was used in some deep stretches. ~ A close watch was also kept at the spillway into the south Ashburton river, and some members of the search yesterday worked up the race from the Highbank end yesterday. On Saturday afternoon, the race was turned 6n, but it was cut off again yesterday morning after * a breakdown at the Highbank power station.