LOST IN THE BUSH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 December 1925, Page 4

LOST IN THE BUSH.

IN EGMONT MOUNTAIN RESERVE. YESTERDAY’S UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH.

The search party which went out into the Egmont Mountain Deserve yesterday to look for the missing man Hugh Hansen was away all day, mu its efforts proved unsuccessful., there were twelve people in the P ai 'tv and they traversed a wide area, lhougi they found footmarks that appeared to be those of a man travelling, by himself, no trace could be found of the missing man. e It was reported that in one part of the reserve fern and supplejacks were found freshly cut, and also that marks were discovered apparently mad e by a stick, which, from the evidence of the marks in the ground, had been heavily leant on by someone. The inference was made that the person using it might have been hurt, arid was using the stick to support himself. However, the clues led to no fresh discovery, and the searchers returned late in the afternoon after a heavy day’s tramping. The country is reported to be very difficult and dangerous in parts, especially near the river courses. Ther e were places where a man could easily get into trouble m soft earth or sand. But the fact that there were numerous streams and that a man could get out of the bush by following one of them inclined the searchers, to the opinion that Hansen has met with an accident. One of the search party was a settler who has been a mate of Hansen’s for several years, and he is convinced that Hansen'is most unlikely to have got into troub’e in the bush, and that he must have been injured in some way. Hansen is known to have taken liis gun with him with the avowed intention of getting some cattle. The track above ■the metal on the Rowan Road is very rough. Wild cattle are known to b e in the bush in fairly large numbers, but the parties did not penetrate far enough to see them. It-is known that cattle are turned into the reserve in considerate numbers every year. The party yesterday apparently did not work to a definite scheme, but it was agreed that to-day a plan would be devised whereby the whole district could be effectively covered. Up to noon to-day no word was received as to the discovery of any sign of the missing man, Hugh Hansen. Twenty-four searchers were engage 1 on this work to-dav, and a further well-organised exploration of the bush was undertaken. Parties entered the reserve at various points between the head of the Mangawhero Road and the head of the Manaia Road, while two ether parties struck in from the Dawson Falls track. The objective of these two parties was Hastie’s Hill, while the others were to endeavour to go as high as possible through the bush before nightfall.