Two Boys Lost In Bush; Third Found

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 1

Two Boys Lost In Bush; Third Found

Fears are held for the safety of two boys missing since Saturday afternoon in rugged, bush-covered hills in the Lobum district, north of Rangiora. A third boy, Mark Williams, aged 11, of 210 Knowles Street, St Albans, who was with the other two when they got lost, was found by a party of deerstalkers vesterdav afternoon.

The two missing boys are: John Edge, aged 12, of 238 Knowles Street, and Vivian White, aged 13, of 15 Bishop Street, St Albans. They are members of die Third Christchurch Boys’ Brigade Company, which is at the brigade’s camp at Birch Hill, Loburn.

The two boys are lightly clad. They have no food and have not eaten since midday on Saturday. Six of the boys from the camp went for a walk along

the Blowhard cattle track to the trig station on Saturday afternoon. At the trig station the party split up, Edge, White and Williams going down the hill towards the Garry River. The other three returned to the camp at 6.45 p.m. When the three boys did not arrive at the camp the alarm was given on Saturday evening. Sergeant W. Watson, who is in charge of the Rangiora station, was appointed field controller for the search. A field base was set up on the banks of the Garry River near the confluence of the Maori Stream. At midnight a party of five local men, who have a good knowledge of the area, began the search. They returned to the base at 8.20 a.m. and reported that they had seen footprints leading downstream.

Found Fit Mark Williams was found near the Blowhard Stream about 3 p.m. yesterday by three deerstalkers who were not connected with the search. He was fit and well and had slept the night under trees. He last saw his two companions about 6 p.m. on Saturday on the north aide of the Blowhard Stream.

He was taken to the field base by the deerstalkers.

Mr N. Duckworth, of Lees Valley, made an aerial search of the area yesterday afternoon. He took off from the Christchurch airport in a Piper' Cub aircraft about 2.30 p.m. He spent 48 minutes flying over the area from the Pioneer Stream to the Ashley Gorge. Visibility was excellent but he saw no sign iff the boys. Mr Duckworth could not take off in the morning because the airport had been closed by fog. 95 Involved About 95 persons were involved in the search yesterday. They included members of the Canterbury Moun-

taineering Club, Christchurch Tramping Club, New Zealand Alpine Club, the police and the Rangiora Search and Rescue Organisation. Two police dogs were used. Communications were provided by the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps and contact was maintained with the Christchurch police station throughout the day. Some interference was experienced from an overseas station and it is believed that a complaint will be made to the Post Office.

About 70 men spent last night camped at Loburn. The Army provided three trucks for transport and 150 24-hour ration packs. Two new parties will be sent into the area today to search from the heads of the Pioneer Stream and the Garry River. Eight parties will then be engaged in the search. Senior-Sergeant O. D. Wilkes directed the search from the Central station.