ROUGH" NIGHT IN THE BUSH

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 May 1932, Page 5

ROUGH" NIGHT IN THE BUSH

FATHER AND SON LOST. WAY OUT FOUND IN MORNING. (By Telegrauh —Press Association.) OTOROHANGA, May 23. Two members of a game-shooting party, Mir W. E. Nicholson and his son, aged 15, of Hamilton, had an unenviable experience on Sunday, when they were lost in heavy bush-clad country in the Waimahoia Valley, Otewa, several miles from Otorohanga. The party consisted of Mr Nicholson and his son, and Mr Eric Innes-Jones and his two sons, of Hamilton. About five o ’clock yesterday afternoon Mr Nicholson and his son separated from the rest of the party with a view to retracing their way to their car and avoiding recrossing the Waipa River. However, they got lost in heavy coun J , try. Mr Innes-Jones and his sons reached the car and waited until after dark, but as there was no appearance of the others Mr Innes-Jones came to the conclusion that Mr Nicholson and 1 his son were bushed.

The assistance of Mr Albert Toa, a well-known Maori chief of the Otewa Valley, was obtained and Mr InnesJones and Mr Toa went back over the country, firing shots from prominent points. No reply or signal was heard or seen and after 10 o’clock the party gave up the search. They communicated with the police at Otorohanga who organised a search party of experienced bushmen.

However, before the search party left this morning Mr Nicholson telephoned the police at Otorohanga. He and his son had found their way out after a night in the bush. Heavy rain fell at night and Mr Nicholson and his son were in an exhausted condition. They were hospitably treated by Mr Toa and are speedily recovering.