MISSING MAN FOUND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 December 1924, Page 9

MISSING MAN FOUND.

LOST IN MOUNTAIN .RESERVE.

VIVID NARRATIVE

58 EfOURS IN THE RUSH

Scantily clad, without food, and practically without sleep, a young uppi n.amed Jaipes Aitken, of Te RML )yn,s. 10/st in tlie hush at the MO-Untaiii Reserve for no less than 58 hours. The story' of his experiences waV given to a Star reporter to-day. / ■ ■

TJbe mystery surrounding the disFP.B|arance of James Aitken, of Te itoti, reached a happy conclusion this morning, when the lad, for whom cenroll parties have been scouring / the Country since Sunday night, arrived in an exhausted condition at the home of Mr and Mrs Thompson,-on the-Palmer Road, Mahoe, at about 8 a.m. to-day. • Constable 'J. O’Doncghue, L of Kapo.nga, who was communicated with, had the, lacl conveyed by car to his home, where he arrived shortly after 11 a.m. Dr. Copper, of Fit ham, was summoned, and it is considered that, ,ifi;er a period of rest and attention, he wi,ll be none .the \yo,rse for his distressing experience; ’ By the courtesy of -. Mrs • Aitken, a tstis reporter was ..permitted .to interview her son, who, though evidently ,in a very weak condition, and suffering from the hardships he had endured, was able to give a vivid account of his experiences. Hew ' related that he left home on Sunday morning with the in-, tcution of proceeding to Matapu. On his arrival there lie was offered a lift by the driver or a passing vehicle, which conveyed him to Mahoe. From •thp.re he proceeded lip the Palmer Road and .en.tere,d the' mountain. reserve, where, haying his rifle, he began' to search for some pigs which he thought pe hqd heard in the bush. His unsuccessful search toqk hint, far into the reserve, but it was pqt until the evening shadows began to’fall that he realised he had lost hfs bearings. He then resolved fcl wait for daylight- before :attempting ,tp gq,t out, and in a-bivouac which. h.e from branches and leaves at.' the side of a hollow tree, he rested until about 2 a.m., when the rain and cold compelled him to seek waruith by exercise. Being attired only irii his :shirt, tunic, short pants, boots and stockings, he was but poorly protected against the cold, and to add to his distress the rain quickly saturated his clothing. 'Without food or sleep and .in a wet and tired condition, he wandered through the bush until at about the hour of daylight this morning. . After having been hopelessly lost, for about 5?. hpurs, he found himself on. the hank of a_ creek he recognised as having seen, on his ej,itry to the reserve. 'Getting into the water lie travelled down stream and at length discovered a track which took him out. to teh head of t the Palmer Road, after which lie- was able to reach Mrs Thompson's house, to, lyhom, he said, in conclusion',' he was Extremely grateful for the kind hospitality offered him*

Needless to. say, 'his parents and family, .who have had an exceedingly anxious time since James’ departure from home, were greatly -relieved when lie.,was at last returned, and desire to e t i ß?’C ss their; gratitude to Mrs Thompson and Constables F. .Pidgeon and F. H. Townsend and the large number of searchers who assisted in the efforts to locate him.

Speaking with a Star reporter, •.Constable Pidgeon, under whom, together with Constable Towpsend, the parties were organised, expressed his appreciation of the untiring and systematic manner ;in which the residents of the district had combined in the search.