BURIED IN THE RANGES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13176, 7 February 1936, Page 5

BURIED IN THE RANGES.

LATE YIR RALPH WOOD

Electric Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N., Last Night.

Word of Mr Wood's tragic passing having been received on. Monday evening . from the remainder of the party of six of which he had been a member, the Lev in-W a iopelm Tramping Club made immediate arrangements, and at lour o’clock on i'm sday morning, Messrs- N. M. Thomson, G. H. Kerslake, A. Harvey. W. Ransom. R. Webb, J. Urquhart and Constable Mcßae. set off from. Levin in the hope of retrieving and bringing the body out.

The site of the Waiopohu hut was eventually reached at 7.30 p.ni. after 123 hours travelling <a journey which usually occupies no more than 3$ hours), but .practically all sign oi the building had d&suLppeared. They camped he re for the mglit.

Setting off again at eight o’clock yesterday morning, the party at 9-39 found Mr Wood’s body at a point

50 feet below the summit of Twin Peak, on the western slope and a few yards off the track, where lie had been left by his comrades after his death.

A survey of all other ridges and outlets was made, and it. was eventually- decided that for such a party, it was utterly- impossible 4 to carry the body out. Hence a shallow grave was dug in the loose shale rock and lined with moss. Mr Wood wa« buried at exactly 1 1 o’clock, a short service being conducted. The spot was marked by a ring of locks around the grave*, at the head of which a wooden cross, hewn fjc.ni lea.therwood scrub, was erected. As a- final tribute a bunch of wild mountain flowers was tied to the cross.