RAIN AND SNOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 6

RAIN AND SNOW

WINTRY CONDITIONS AT GEORGE SOUND EXPEDITION FRUSTRATED Staff Reporter GEORGE SOUND, Apl. 15. It is raining and snowing heavily here at present, and has been since Wednesday night. The snow lies thick on the mountain tops and if Mr H. B. Wisely, assistant to Dr O. J. Murie, two deer shooters and a photographer are still working the Henry Saddle, five hours’ tramp from George Sound and 3000 feet high, they will be having a chilly time. They may, however, have gone on to the Lake Thompson hut for shelter. Three packers are also in that area, carrying food. Yesterday there was little activity in the George camp. Only Miss R. Mason, who is collecting botanical specimens, and the acting cook, Mr B. Allan, baking bread, and the camp manager, Mr J. V. R. McKane, were busy, the others sat, bored stiff, in the tents, while some including Dr Murie, studied their field notes. The Tourist Department representative, due back in Te Anau on Thursday, has been delayed by the weather, and will probably be unable to leave until the Alert calls at George Sound on Monday. He 'radioed Milford Sound to send the launch Donald Sutherland down the coast, but the weather was too rough for the 45-foot craft.

At the Stillwater base camp, 10 personnel are under canvas. Six of these are packers and they have dismantled the upper Stillwater camp to carry via the Stillwater base and Lake Marchant to Caswell Sound. When Dr Murie will be able to leave George Sound is not yet known. He intended to leave yesterday or to-day.