Weather Delays Search

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 1

Weather Delays Search

(N.Z. Press Association)

NELSON, Sept. 2.

A ground search for a missing tramper in the Wangapeka-Kara-mea area will be started by a party from Nelson early tomorrow morning.

The tramper, Kerry Silverwood, aged 21, of Paraparaumu, was due at Karamea four days ago. He is an experienced bushman and has a .303 rifle and ammunition. Rivers in the area are In flood and the police think he may have camped in one of several huts along the route Turbulent weather delayed an air search for Mr Silverwood today. Mr Silverwood entered the Wangapeka Valley on August 18 to walk to Karamea. He had supplies for 10 days. He .called at the home of a forest ranger, Mr R. Curtiss, and promised to send a telegram when he reached Karamea. When no telegram was received the Search and Rescue Organisation was informed. BOYS MISSING

Three Nelson College boys are also missing on a walk from Wangapeka to Stag Flat, They were due back on Saturday. The boys, Christopher Stewart, aged 17, Stephen Mori, aged 16, and Bill Simister, aged 16, could also be trapped by swollen rivers. There are huts in the area and there is no official concern at present. The father of one of the boys, Captain C. M. Simister, aifd a friend, Mr P. Blake, went looking for the boys this morning. They left from the Wangapeka Valley.

A search started from Nelson today for a hunter missing since yesterday in the Hackett-Miner area behind Brightwater, 13 miles from Nelson. The hunter, Louis Richards, failed to arrive at a meeting place before night? fall. He and another hunter, Mr J. Stephenson, of Brightwater, separated yesterday about 11 a.m. at the headwaters of the Miner River. When his friend failed to return, Mr Stephenson fired, shots. There was no reply. ■ The missing man has know-

ledge of the area. He had no food other than a bar of chocolate.

A party of 12 men led by Constable N. C. Shepherd, of Nelson, and Mr A. Adamson, of the Search and Rescue Organisation, went Into the bush this morning. Two shooters who were in the area last night reported that they heard three successive shot? which could have been a distress signal. They thought the signal was repeated but were unable to pin-point it.