FOUND BY BROTHER

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11935, 16 September 1924, Page 7

FOUND BY BROTHER

IN LONG CULLY FATHER’S ALL-NIGHT SEARCH FOR DAUGHTER. A STRENUOUS SEARCH. Last evening a “Times” representative called at the home of Miss Tiller, in Wright street, where further particulars were supplied by her mother and brother. Mr - Tiller was also in bed, being thoroughly exhausted by his long walk and hours of searching. The young ladies are both 18 years of age, and Miss Tiller is a member of the Tararua Tramping Club, having been out for a number of tramps with fellow-members. She has a tramper’s haversack and equipment, which includes ground sheets, and, with her frjend, Miss Pollock, who lives at Kelburp, set out on Sunday morning about 7 o’clock, intending to go as far as Red Rocks. After lunch, thinking they might extend the tramp, they proceeded towards the head of Long Gully, thinking to work round to the east and back into the city. They proceeded for some distance, but found the 1 going very stiff and steep in places. Then darkness came on, and, finding they were getting away from the track, they decided to bivouao for the night. Fortunately they had ground sheets and a fair quantity of food, but no covering. The night, though cool, was pleasant. ■> ANXIOUS PARENTS. Meanwhile Mr and Mrs Tiller had become consumed with anxiety, being afraid that the girls bad met with some accident. At 1 a.m. yesterday morning Mr Tiller set out for Red Rocks, but met with no success, and returned at 5 a.m. Just before that hour, Miss Tiller’s brother, Leslie, and cousin, Mr Eades, also left home to join in the search, and they met Mr Tiller, senr., on his way home. The brother and cousin met them in the big gully about 8 a.m., and in a little over two hours they reached home again, much to the relief of Mrs Tiller, who was greatly distressed at the prolonged absence of her daughter with her friend. Unfortunately, 'Mr Tiller, senr., had jqst departed for the second time to join in the search, and did not meet them on the way. It was some hours before he heard of their return, and he reached home about 4 p.m., thoroughly fatigued with the strenuous nature of the journey, searching, and anxiety. Another cousin, Mr Stephen Eades, set out about 7 a.m., and returned at midday quite exhausted, after tramping many miles. Ho also missed the wanderers on their homeward journey. FOOD AND REST. Several members of the Tararua Tramping Club had also gathered ready to enter upon the search, but the missing girls arrived home just as they were about to set out. Nevertheless, the parents wish to express their gratitude to the club members for the prompt way in which they prepared to render assistance in the search! After partaking of food the young ladies retired to rest, and after a few hours’ sleep were fully restored, and none the worse for their involuntary experience of sleeping out in the scrub. Mrs Tiller said they were very thankful that the girls had come to no harm, but that their absence had given them great anxiety. As the “Times” reporter was leaving, the bright and cheerful voice of a young lady in the bedroom adjoining was heard to remark, “But I enjoyed it, all the same, mum.” WILD, ROUGH OOUNTRY. The country in which the young ladies found themselves at dark is steep, very rough, and covered with scrub, and with no residence or shelter for a considerable distance. Apparently the journey up the was deceptive m appearance, and, looking at it from a distance, the young ladies thought they would be able to make the round trip by evening time.