MISSING YOUTHS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 123, 22 April 1927, Page 6

MISSING YOUTHS

TARARUAS BEING SEARCHED.

NO TRACE YET.

Search parties are out in the district in which it is most likely that the two lost trampers, Roy Diederich and Desmond Scanlon, will be found, but up to noon to-day no advice had been received in Palmerston North as to whether they had been located. Setting out on Thursday last ;to cross the Tararuas from Levin on what is known as Girdlestone’s track, the youths expected to reach Carterton or Masterton on Monday morning, and are thus four days overdue. Naturally, when the boys did not turn up, anxiety was felt concerning them and search parties were organised. . Yesterday these were further augmented from Wellington, Masterton and Otaki, and as much of the territory as possible is being combed. The area is a very large one, and contains thousands of gullies, and at least six large rivers with their many tributaries. 1% would be it physical impossibility to comb the whole area, which is at least 200 squaro miles in extent.

Further parties have been arranged under the leadership of men of special knowledge of the particular area over which they will supervise the search. Amongst the leaders will be Professor Boyd Wilson, of Victoria College, Mr J. Lipper, late guide of Mount Cook, from Victoria College, and practically all the officials of the Tararua Tramping Club, by which body the search is being organised from the Wellington end.

Masterton advice last evening stated that a party was to leave to-day equipped for a week’s journey, and would search in the vicinity of Mitre Peak. At Otaki the services of three experienced men, Messrs A. J. Doig, A. Greig and J. Greig have been secured by the police. The men have left for Mount Hector, with the intention of going on to Mount Holdsworth, via the Otaki Gorge, to assist in the search for the missing men.

Advice' was received in Masterton yesterday from Mr F. W. Vosseler, of the Tararua Tramping Club, that his party, Messrs' Mclntosh, Fife, Butcher and Hart, of Wellington, started at daybreak from Adkin’s Hut, but were forced to retrace their steps owing to the state of the Ohau River. They intend to explore up the Otaki River to-day, and were to be joined by a further party from Wellington. Should no trace be found by Saturday, preparations are, in hand to dispatch big parties to relieve the men at present engaged in the search from that end.

Roy Diederich is the Youngest son of Mr •B. J. Diederich, of Linton Street, and for the past two years has been a student at Victoria University College. Prior to that he was a pupil at the Palmerston North Boys’ High School and as a member of the institution’s first fifteen was well-known on the football field. Although only 20 years of age, he is an experienced tramper and has several times crossed the Tararuas, but on different v tracks. He has had considerable experience in such difficult climbing as on Egmont and. in the wilds of the Urewera country. Speaking to a “Standard” reporter this morning, Mr Diederich, senr., pointed out that the chief cause for anxiety is the possibility of accident, and he considers it very, unlikely that the youths crossed the' divide. The weather, he added, had not been very cold over the week-end, and he did not fear exhaustion from this cause. Regarding the food supply, although greatly concerned. about the youths, he was not over-anxious oh this score, pointing out that his son was no stranger in the bush. He intended to proceed to Levin to-day to join in the search.

The Palmerston North' police have arranged for a party to leave Shannon to conduct a search via the Mangahao valley.

YOUTHS LONG TRAMP. Two youths, Frederick Davis and Leslie Williams, of Palmerston North, who left Greytown on Thursday for the purpose of going over the track between Greytown and Otaki, and who did not turn up on time, reached Otaki 6afely last evening, both being in a very exhausted condition, and stating that they woqld have been unable to 6tand another day on the ranges. Their non-arrival on time was caused by their losing the track when searching for a hut, and, staying that -night under bushes, they were soaked to the skin by rain.