EXPECTED TONIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 8, 9 July 1935, Page 16

EXPECTED TONIGHT

STORM-BOUND TRAMPERS

AWAITING FALL IN RIVER

The trampers who have been stormbound on the eastern side of the Orongorongo River since Saturday are expected to return to Wellington this evening. They did not attempt the return journey yesterday because of the continuation of bad weather, coupled with the knowledge that part of the area between the Tararua Tramping Club's Waerenga hut, where they are assumed to have spent last night, and Mr. Eric Riddiford's station, was flooded.

Those familiar with the area state that the Orongorongo River falls as quickly as it rises, and it is considered probable that the party would have crossed the river this afternoon, when it would have reached a fordable state. If the trampers left at 2 o'clock they would arrive at Rona Bay shortly after 5 o'clock this evening. No information regarding the route they might have taken had been received in Wellington today, but it was stated that the party would be more likely to wait until the river was low enough to cross, and then hurry back to town, in preference to undertaking the journey from the Waereriga hut along the eastern side of the river to the bridge at Mr. Riddiford's Orongorongo station. Inquiries made at the station today revealed that the party had not arrived there early in the afternoon.

About twenty persons, men and women, remain in the party, four who were ahead of the others having pushed on far enough on Sunday to reach the Hiddiford station before dark. These trampers. two men and two women, returned to Wellington yesterday, taking four hours to complete the journey from the hut to the station, a trip which, in normal circumstances, occupied two hours and a half. No fears are entertained for the wellbeing of the trampers, for they have food enough for today, are well equipped, and have been staying in a well-found hut with accommodation for forty people.