Disappeared From Beds 2 Weeks Ago

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 14

Disappeared From Beds 2 Weeks Ago

(From Our Own Reporter) NELSON, March 12. Two weeks ago two Nelson youths left their beds in the middle of the night and disappeared. Their bicycles were discovered at the foot of a track leading to Fringed Hill, about three miles from the centre of the city, but no further trace has been found.

The youths are Timothy John Preece, aged 16, a student at Nelson College, son of Mr and Mrs A. J. Preece, of 4 Mount Pleasant avenue, and Peter Foster Barnett, aged 15, son of Mr and Mrs W. A. Barnett, of 29 Queens road. The Nelson police were notified of the boys’ actions within two days of their disappearance. But since no fears have been felt for their safety and because it is possible that they are no longer in the Nelson back country, their disappearance was not. published until today. Preece is an experienced tramper, but Barnett, until now, has not shown any interest in tramping. Last November Preece disappeared for 10 days, and the Nelson Search and Rescue Organisation was called in.

At the moment the police are not contemplating calling out the Search and Rescue Organisation since there is no positive proof that the boys are in the Nelson area or in the back-country near the spot where their bicycles were found. Took .303 Rifle It is known that they have in their possession a .303 rifle and ammunition. However, if they did make their way into the head of the Pelorus river and the United river, behind Nelson, the rifle is unlikely to be of much benefit to them, for game is extremely scarce there. Mr Preece said tonight that after his son’s disappearance he discovered a list of foodstuffs compiled by his son, probably enough to last two weeks if used sparingly.

But, he said, he was not certain this list was not meant to act as a red herring, in the hope that it would be believed that the boys had headed into the bush. At the head of the Pelorus river area there are several huts, some of them containing food, so that in an emergency food would be available. Both Wearing Jeans Both Mr Preece and the police believed the boys may have left the Nelson area and made their way south towards Christchurch. The police are anxious to learn if any motorist has seen or picked up two youths answering to their description. Preece is sft 7in and has fair hair and blue eyes. He is believed to be wearing blue jeans or shorts with either a tartan or grey shirt, and hob-nailed boots. Barnett may be wearing blue jeans and a brown flannel shirt.