TOLL OF THE STORM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13173, 4 February 1936, Page 5

TOLL OF THE STORM.

DEATH OF TRAMPER MR J. R. WOOD, OF P.X. Electric Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N. Last Night. On the wooded slopes of the Tararua. ranges behind Levin on Sunday six young men. fought for their lives, and while five were successful one succumbed to exposure and exhaustion and his body now lies where he breathed his last cm the windswept top of Twin Peak, amidst, bush giants that were felled as wheat before a reaper, by the hurricane that swept the district. The victim is Ralph Wood, optician, of Palmerston North, a married man, aged 29, residing in Manapouri Orescent’, and a son of Mr and Mrs J. R. Wood, of Princess Street.

Mr Wood, jnr.. made one of a. party of six who set out shortly after mid-day on Saturday on a week-end excursion to Te Matawai hut on the slopes of the ranges behind Levin. His companions were Andrew Fuller, who acted as leader. Tom Arlidge, Ralph Dawick, Harold. Ramsay and Albert Waters, all of Palmerston N. On reaching Levin they made straight for the hut, which was reached at about 6 p.m. During the night the storm broke with such force that they decided to return by the same way as they had gone into the hills, but the flooded state Vf the Ohau riven prevented their doing this. They then took the alternative route over Waippehu, and while progressing over Butcher’s saddle 1 had a terrifying experience. Trees uprooted by the hurricane v ere jailing all around them, and none* expected to get out alive. The •track was completely obliterated, and at times they felt that all hope of getting out had vanished. They were soon feeling the strain of the heavy going and progress was lamentably slow.

Coming out on to Txvin peak, however, the absence of large trees removed a great deal of the danger, but Mr Wood was seen to be failing. Mr Waters was in much the same state, and both had to be assisted along by their mates. Night was now approaching, and about 6 p.m. Mr Wood completely caved in and passed away. The night was spent in sleeping-bags in the open and on Monday morning the remainder oi the party continued their harowing journey.

Mr Arlidge went ahead, with the idea of getting assistance from Levin. taking eleven hours, to get out. On his reporting the plight of his mates, a party was immediately organised, but its services were not needed as the other four had practically made as good progress down the slopes, although by a different route.

This morning a party of eight experience'.! trampers was due to set* out from Levin at three o’clock to bring back the body of Mr Wood, but as it will be necessary to cut a track, it is expected the operation will take at least twfo days and probably three.

A N OTHER J )EER STA LKEI * J)I ES MASTERTON. Last Night. Txvo Masterton lads lost their lives as a result of Sunday’s storm. James Wilson, the 15-year-old son of Mr and Mrs James Wilson, of Waingawa, left home in company with five other youths on Saturday afternoon on a deerstalking expedition to Strouvar. Throe members of the pai*ty, including deceased, went into the bush on Saturday evening but .soon lost their way, a thick mist rendering xisihility very difficult. The party which had no food and were poorly clad for the ordeal decided Lo spend the night in the bush Next morning at dawn they started to follow a fence line in the hope of clearing the bush, but a heavy storm broke further adding to the troubles of the youths. The howling gab* frequently smashed down trees in their path and they battled on feeling rather than seeing their way. Wilson began to show signs of weakness anil one of bis friends relieved him of ins rifle.

The party had gone some distance walking about- twenty yards behind cue another whin !t found that Wilson xva s missing. Shots xvere fired and calls repeatedly made but without any response. Thinking that Wilson had succeeded in finding a short cut back to camp the youths continued on but were unable to get out and spent another unenviable night in the bush. About 11 a.m. they succeeeded in making their way out to a sheep station where they secured much-needed food. They then went by car to where they had struck carop on Saturdaynight expecting to find Wilson there. When they found that nothing had been heart of him a search party* was organised and later in the day his body was found lying ir the fern a short distance from wl-ere his friends last saw him. The lad. who was clad in a shirt, trousers and sandshoes, apparently died from exposure on Sunday night, An inquest will be held. He was employed by the Oppenheimer Casing Company at Waingawa. BRANCH B REARS 140 Y' S NECK. MASTERTON Last Night. Eric Wallace Groves, the 16-year-old son of Mr and Mrs H. G. Groves, of Tinui, a well-known. Wairarapa family, was killed this afternoon when helping to cut a big branch from a tree that had been damaged by the gale. The branch was cut down buf it rebounded and the end struck deceased on the side of his head and broke his neck. The lad was a pupil of the T-eifil-ing Agricultural High School and was to have left today to commence his first term. On his cxvn suggestion however he remained to help clear up the storm damage. HAMILTON. Last Night.

Blunging over a steep bank on a slippery clay road near Te Mata, Raglan, Hanui Rangiawha, aged 56, a well-known Aotea sheepfarmer. received injuries to which lie succumbed. Deceased. xx*ho was- driving a lialfton truck when the accident occurred. had set out to gc to Napier but decided to turn back home on account of the wet weather. While negotiating the road oil the return trip the truck skidded and went over the bank. Rangiawha was severely crushed and died' a few hours later, but two passengers in the truck escaped injury.