OVERTAKEN BY NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22099, 3 May 1935, Page 10

OVERTAKEN BY NIGHT

SCHOOLBOYS IN BUSH TUAKAU PARTY'S EXPERIENCE; [from our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE. Thursday Overtaken by darkness in the bnsl on top of Pinnacle Hill, the highest point between Bomlba.y and Pokeno, a party of 10 thinly-clad young schoolboys and a teacher from the Marist Brothers' School, Tuakau, found it impossible last night to retrace their steps through tie dense undergrowth without lights. They were faced with the prospect of remaining where they stood until morning. _ J The lads, whose ages ranged from nine to 13 years, and four older boys, had left the school in the morning in the charge of Brother Adrian on a hiking expedition. The party had no equipment and the boys for the most part -were clad in open shirts, with shorts and sandshoes. There is r.o track to the summit of the hill, the going being very rough through blackberry and other growth. When darkness fell, it was decided that the four oldeir boys should try to make their way back while the others waited. They reached the college at 10.45 p.m. After being told of the plight of uhe others, a party, left under the charge of Constable C. Robb, of Tuakau.

The constable reached the boys at one o'clock this morning, after an hour's struggle through the undergrowth. The party had managed to kindle a small fire, aiyl all were back at the school again by 3 a.m., littlo the worse for their experience.