SEARCH FOR CULLER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28528, 6 March 1958, Page 10

SEARCH FOR CULLER

River Accident Feared

Footprints leading to the Clarence river at a point about 25 miles from its mouth have been found by the party which has been searching for Ivor Lawrence Jenkins, aged 23, of Rangiora, a deer culler, who was last seen 15 days ago. According io a radio report received from the searen party by the Blenheim police early last evening, a rivet accident is feared.'

In light of this development, today’s search would be concentrated in the river area, from the point where the footprints were found down to the mouth of the Clarence, said Inspector J. J. Kearns, of Nelson, in a telephone, interview with “The Press” late last evening.

The size of the party, which yesterday was increased to 40 men, comprising deer cullers, farmers, and policemen, under the leadership of Sergeant A. E. K. Keown, of Blenheim, will be considerably reduced. If the weather allows it, the 25-mile stretch of the river will be searched from the air early this morning by an R.N.Z.A.F. Harvard from Woodbourne.

At present the river was dirty and dangerous, said Inspector Kearns. Mr Jenkins was last seen on February 14, when he left his companion, Mr G. Sands, for a few weeks’ work on the Waiau-toa station. His pack was found in the Gibson hut, which is about 46 miles from the river mouth, by the search party on Monday.