DEATH IN THE BUSH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 May 1925, Page 3

DEATH IN THE BUSH.

LONG SEARCH FOR BODY

CHILDREN’S DISTRESSING TIME.

The death of Mr. Edgar Neve, builder, of Tahunanui, Nelson, occurred last Sunday in unusually 'distressing circumstances.

That morning Mr. Neve set off to take two of his children for a- tramp to ; Jenkin’s Hi!!, near Stoke, the intention being to. return Home via Poor Man’s Valiev. All went well apparently until the top of Jenkin’s Hill was reached and the bush entered-: for some djstuvua. There A,lr. Neve had a heart seizure which idsu'ted Jri his death. The jjligl.it of the. unfortunate children may well be imagined. Bravely, however, they set about seeking assistance, one remaining with her father, who she thought had fainted, arid the other depending the hill to find the help they heeded .so much. The country is wild and difficult of access, and, as help did not arrive for some considerable'time the daughter remaining with her father set out- also, believing that her brother., who was much younger, had possibly himself got astray.

Mrs. Barr’s home in upper Poor Man’s Valley was eventually reached, and Mrs. Barr immediately set out and climbed the big hill with the children. They co.uld not, however, find tlie place where Mr. Neve was lying, and after a fruitless search returned to summon further assistance. Mr. C. T. Price was communicated with and he,, \yith Messrs. J. Brown and H. Mills, immediately .set out for the hills. Dr. Bari 1 and two sons of Captain Hay, Q. and B. Hay, Mrs. Barr .and the ehi'dren were also: searching. Just at dusk Mr. J. Brown found the body in the bush near the top of Jenkin’s Hill. It was in a most inaccessible place find had it not been for the fact that a_white hat was near, bv would almost surely not have been found that night.

The country was so rough and steep that great difficulty was experienced n bringing the bddv out. However, the task was'aecompHslibcl, and, as tho journey was nearing the end, others having; heard of the occurrence, were arriving- <>n the scene, and all possible assistance was rendered those who had had so hill'd a time on the rough, precipitous hillside.