NIGHT IN THE OPEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 10

NIGHT IN THE OPEN

TRAMPERS MISS THEIR WAY MESSAGE RELIEVES ANXIETY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 1. Considerable anxiety was felt at the failure to return of a party of five young men and women who left yesterday morning to walk from Island Bay to Red Rocks, but fears were relieved when one of the party telephoned at 1 o’clock that they were all safe. The trampers should have been back by 6 o’clock last night. The party consisted of Roy Woodcock, Ken M‘Gill, the Misses Goldsmith (two) and a brother, children of Mr J. I. Goldsmith. The party’s ages range from 18 to 25. When they failed to return a search was made by the parents, but it proved unavailing, and the police were arranging for a search this afternoon when news of the safety of the party was received. The party was forced to spend the night in the open through being cut off by the in the vicinity of Red Rocks. One of the young men told a reporter to-day that, when darkness set in, they decided not to try to find their way along the coast as it was considered too risky. An attempt was then made to reach Makara or some other settlement by cutting across‘the country, but this was abandoned about 3.30 this moniing. The party had by this time reached an elevated position,*and the lights of Petone could be seen twinkling in the distance. A fire was built, and the trampers endeavoured to make themselves as comfortable as possible. At daybreak they descended into a gully and followed a stream until they regained the beach, reaching Happy Valley shortly after 12.30 o’clock to-day. All the members of the party were exhausted.