LOST IN FOG

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 8

LOST IN FOG

TWO NIGHTS IN BUSH

MARRIED COUPLE'S ORDEAL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

Details of the experiences of v Mr. Just and his wife, who were lost in the Kahuterawa Hills, near Palmerston North, show that they had' a trying ordeal in endeavouring to make their way out, which was accentuated by an injury to Mr. Just's foot caused through a small axe slipping during use. Both the husband and wife spent Saturday night at the stalking camp near Kahuterawa with the party, and on Sunday left tho stalking expedition. Subsequently a dense fog, which lay heavily all day over the hills, came up. Though both, were experienced climbers and knew the area well, they became completely lost. The weather remained unsettled on Monday and Tuesday, with the mist enshrouding the hills.

On Monday a search party was organised when Mr. and Mrs. Just failed to appear, but an exhaustive search gave no- indication of their whereabouts. Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Just endeavoured to reach open country. On Monday night they found themselves looking down on the lights of Pahiatua from the top of the hills some miles away. Failing to find a way out of the bush they were compelled to retrace their steps, spending a second night in the bush, after making a camp and fire. On Tuesday the searchers fired guns, but Mr. Just was unable to reply, as his ammunition was exhausted. The shots, however, afforded a guide and in the afternoon the parties came face to face in the bush about oue and a half miles from the hut, not far distant from the point where they entered tho bush. Both were fit for walking, but they had been drenched sinco Sunday and Vvere suffering from exposure, but not seriously.