Search Switched To Waiau River

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 1

Search Switched To Waiau River

More than 100 men, aided by a light aeroplane, jet boats, and police dogs, searched unsuccessfully yesterday along the Waiau river for Ralph Lattimore, aged 19, a boilermaker, who has been missing from Hanmer Springs since Sunday.

The search was concentrated along 24 miles of the river after police on Tuesday night were told that about 11.30 a.m. on Sunday the occupant of a jet boat saw a man answering Mr Lattimer’s description on the eastern bank of the river opposite Marble point. This is about six miles downstream from the junction of the Waiau and Hamner rivers. The man, who was carrying a rifle similar to that which Mr Lattimore had when he left Hanmer Springs on Sunday morning, had his boots around his neck and seemed to be about to cross the river to the road on the western bank. When the police received this information the search was switched from the Wallace Peak-Mount Leslie-Miz-zen Peak area to the 24 miles of river-bed between the junction of the Waiau and Hanmer rivers and the road bridge at Waiau township. More than 100 musterers, runholders, and local residents, with nine policemen under Sergeant R. G. Gargett, of Christchurch, combed the river-bed. Winds in the area were strong, but the weather was fine.

Mr Duncan Rutherford, of Leslie Hills station, flew his

light aircraft yesterday morning along the river-bed and nearby hills, and three jet boats belonging to Messrs G. Erceg, Andrews, and Gardiner, all local residents, moved along the river while three police dogs from Christchurch combed areas of dense scrub in the river-bed. Inspector G. Twentyman, of the Christchurch police, said that the river in the area where the man answering Mr Lattimore’s description was seen was very swift, and there was a number of whirlpools. Both Inspector Twentyman and Senior-Sergeant R. D. Whales, in charge of the Christchurch end of the search, said that the efforts of the local people taking part in the search were marvellous, particularly for such a small community. Fifty persons had taken part in the search on Tuesday and more than 100 had turned out yesterday. They had had no hesitation in using their own vehicles and craft to assist the search. Small parties will continue the search today. Mr Lattimore, married, with one child, of 48 Withells road. Christchurch, left to go hunting about 5 a.m. on Sunday. He told his wife and father he would return about noon that day.