SEARCH ON RANGES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 185, 3 May 1933, Page 10

SEARCH ON RANGES

All Wairarapa Parties Return to Masterton CONTROL IN FUTURE Dominion Special Service. Mastertoil, May 2. All Wairarapa trampers engaged in the search for the four trampers, who were located in the Waiohine Gorge at midday on Sunday, have now been accounted for. There is still a party ot three at the Mitre Flats base camp, and it will remain there until official advice is received from Wellington to the effect that all parties from the city have returned. . Mr. C. Wylie’s party was the last Masterton party to return, arriving back at noon to-day. The party went out on Saturday morning, going into the ranges at Mitre Flats, and returning via Mount Holdsworth, after traversing Baldy and the Broken Axe Binnacles. In order to assist In recalling any search parties that may still be out, Air A V. Jury flew over the ranges to-day in ZK-ABJ, with pennants waving from the wing-tips. For future reference in the event ot other parties being reported missing, the Masterton Search Committee decided at a meeting last evening to' ask all leaders of search parties to submit written reports on the country traversed, the names of members of their party, and details of the food and equipment used. . It was also decided that an effort be made to secure proper correlation between the various organisations which were associated in the search for the missing trampers. It was felt that some mutual arrangement should be reached between the Alas ter ton, Wellington, Palmerston North, and Levin trampers, and that the Tararuas should be subdivided into definite areas. It was stated that co-operation, was essential when conducting a search. The Alayor of Dunedin, Mr. R. S. Black, has forwarded the following telegram to the Alayor of Masterton, Mr. T. Jordan: “Please express to the trampers who have been found the joy of Dunedin citizens at the splendid news, and the earnest hope that no illeffects will follow the physical and mental suffering. To those who braved all hardships'to render assistance and, if possible, bring them home safe and sound, our unstinted praise is given. They lived up to the high traditions of our race.” WILL TRAMP AGAIN Miss Williams Undeterred Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, May 2. “I think we could have stayed out a week longer, but by the end of that time we would, have been in a pretty bad state of collapse. However, we could not have withstood any further exposure on the snowline,” said Miss Morva Williams, one of the party of trampers which was missing in the Tararua ranges for over a fortnight, in an interview to-day. Miss Williams said that when they went into the hills they were prepared to go Into water up to their necks, but they were (not prepared for such an undertaking after they had been without food for several days. What took most out of them was the fact that they were unable to maintain a sufficiently high body temperature. Miss AVilliams said that the two days that the party spent in the snow were the worst. With the exception of those days she was fit. “Undoubtedly I will go tramping again; this experience will not deter me,” said Afiss Williams. 'WELLINGTON SEARCHERS Injured Man in Hospital A member of one of the Wellington search parties, which returned from the Tararua Ranges on Monday night, Air. H. AlcNaught, is at present in hospital suffering from an injured foot. The party to which he was attached had been in the ranges since last Friday. It did not know the “lost” tramp- ' ers had been discovered until Pakuratahi was reached on Alonday evening. Many of the trampers who were engaged in searching have returned to Wellington. The secretary of the Tararua Tramping Club, Air. G. B. AVilson, stated yesterday morning that 17 persons were still in the. ranges; ' three parties were in the AVaiohine-itl River Gorge, and one party was still at the Alount Holdsworth mountain house. Possibly it would be several days before the last of these searchers returned. The Railway Department has consented to continue the whistle blasts while in the ranges, and on a day like yesterday, Air. Wilson said, the signals could be heard all over the Tararuas. The condition of Air. A. H. O’Keefe is reported to be satisfactory, but he is not expected to leave hospital for some time.