WAIUTA BOYS MISSING

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 9

WAIUTA BOYS MISSING

MINERS’ LONG SEARCH. Two Waiuta, boys, one 13, and the other 12 years of age, were missing, and efforts by more than two hundred men were soon in hand to locate them Tho search for them, which commenced on Sunday night, was continued yesterday and to-day. 'Plie lads are John Joseph Rodden, 13 years, standing' 4ft. lin., and weighing seven stone, lie is of fresh complexion, has a round face, and brown eyes, also dark curly hair. He was not wearing a bat, and was clothed in a. navy blue double-breasted suit, also a. brown jersey, which showed above tho collar of bis coat. He wore fawn socks, with rubber lace-up shoes. Ho is a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Rodden, of Waiuta. The other lad is Robert Blight, aged 12 years, and 3ft. loins in height. He has dark brown curly hai)', is of plight build, and has a pale face. He (lid not wear a hat, and wore a grey jersey, with the sleeves cut off at the elbows. He did not wear socks, but was wearing tennis shoes. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blight, of Waiuta.

The boys loft their homes on Sunday morning, at 9.30 o’clock, having decided to take an air-gun along with them, ami shoot at birds. It was evidently their intention to return home for their lunch, as they did not take any food with them. They were seen about two miles from Waiuta at 11.30 (/clock on Sunday morning, and also later, on a sledgetrack, by a Mr. Muirhead. Search parties went out on Sunday night, and yesterday the Blackwater miners, to the number of about two hundred, searched the surrounding hills, and the gullies, without locating the boys. The Blackwater mine- was to have resumed operations yesterday, following on a settlement of the strike, but as the employees took part in the search, a. start could not be made. Increasing concern for the safety of the lads decided eight men to search with lights, from the Blackwater mine battery, towards Alexander mine, last night. Notification to the men of Waiuta that tho lads had not been found during the night, was given when the mine whistle sounded at live o’clock this morning. Search parties gathered at the mine at six o’clock, and set about combing the district. They returned at one o’clock this afternoon, having to again report failure to locate tho boys. The reef country about. Waiuta affords little shelter and as heavy rain visited the district yesterday, with cold temperatures, the effects of exposure, and lack of nourishment with the lads, has increased tho anxiety in the district. Some 220 men were searching this morning, and they left again at about two o’clock this afternoon, to comb the country once more. The boy Rodden, was employed on a farm, and he expressed the intention to return to his work on Sunday, not later than three o’clock.

FOUND THIS AFTERNOON.

Telephonic communication from a resident of Waiuta, informed the “Star” at 2.45 o’clock this afternoon, that both lads had been found, near the Blackwater Creek, about three miles from Waiuta. They were in very low physical condition, having been subjected to the weather, and without nourishment. It is stated that they lost their way, but full particulars could not be secured this afternoon, as the party returning with the boys to Waiuta, had not arrived back when the “Star” went to press.