LOST IN THE RANGES

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13886, 20 June 1938, Page 5

LOST IN THE RANGES

HUNTERS IN TARARUAS MISSING SINCE SATURDAY. Electric Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N., June 19. Search parties sought unsuccessfully to-day for Mr Arthur Regan, aged 20, and Mr Hugh Bowler, aged 26, both of Palmerston North, who have been missing in the Tararua Ranges since early’ oil Saturday evening. The two men set out on a deer-stalking expedition early on Saturday, and were to have returned by about 6 p.m. the same day. Two search parties left the city at about mid-day to-day 7, and another left from the Paliiatua side of the ranges at about the same time. Shots were fired to attract the attention of the missing men, and answering shots were hoard, but thick fog disguised from what direction. The search will be continued tomorrow 7. The two Palmerston North parties were in charge of Mr D. Honore and Mr V. A. Christensen, and the Pahiatua party was led by Constable ie Comte. The search was considerably hampered by thick fog and the constant drizzling rain which reduced visibility to zero. Messrs Regan and Bowler left Palmerston North in the latter’s car about 5 a.in. on Saturday but did not inform anyone where they were going stalking. It is understood they took with them ample provisions. When they did not return at the appointed time, and after giving

them several hours’ grace, Mr Regan, sen., informed the police, who traced Bowler’s car to Green’s Road, Linton, where it was left within an hour’s uphill tramp to the foot of the ranges. COATS LEFT BEHIND. The car, when examined by Constable G. E. Chapman and Palmerston North, was locked, and inside were the missing men’s coats. The country in this vicinity is clear and open and to find more favourable shooting ground the hunters apparently left the load and went higher up to the bush. Mr Bowler is said to be an experienced bushman who has done a fair amount of deer sta Iking. In an interview to-day, Mi Honone, who knows the Kahutarawasection of the lange well, said that from where the car was left it could be fairly safely assumed that the men took the short-cut into the bush which is in the vicinity 7 of the headwaters of the Tiritea Stream. His party went in from Shear s Flat. He said that conditions yesterday 7 w>*re the same as to-day, with thick fog and a drizzling rain which made the search a most unpleasant one. The air was raw and fairly cold and in his opinion it would be almost impossible for the missing men to find dry wood, let alone light a fire for warmth.

“We kept to the higher ground,” he said, “and fired signal shots hoping that if they 7 were heard tin* missing men might strike out in their direction. We red bursts of ihree shots at short intervals. ANSWERING SHOTS. “We could see very little. The fog was impenetrable and at times completely blotia *d out everything. We thought we heard a reply to one of our signals. It was very faint, but nevertheless distinct, 'but it was impossible to t,°H from what direction it came. There were three answering shots. I do not think they wen* fired by another party. “Tt is very deceptive country 7 where we think the men are,” Mr Honore continued, “and it is particularly so in dirty' weather. It is fairly bird going even for experienced men, and to a novice it would l»e treacherous. If they got on the leading ridge it would take them a 1' ng time to get out. but unless they are hurt or something serious has happened to them il*ey can find their wav out by following the gorge. They will probably 7 come out at the Tiritea Dam.” “NEAR EDGE OF BUSH.”

Mr Christensen's party 7 searched in the vicinity of the Tiritea Dam, and in an interview to-night he said that visibility was very 7 poor and restretc»d tlx* party’s movements considerably. “My party 7 also fired shots to attract the attention of the missing my-*n.” said Mr Christensen. “We. distinctly heard heard a reply. T do not think there is a possible chance of tin* shots we heard being those fired by another party because, they were single shots. Ours were fired rapidly and the shots we heard in reply wore fired slowly. They seemed to come lrom somewhere near the edge ol th-* bush, but it was impossible to tell accurately.” The search will bo continued tomorrow, the parties leaving Palmerston North at dawn to comb the locality- where it is believed the men arc and also to inspect Just’s Hut in case the missing men have mad© their way there. THE RAT IT A TIT A SEARCHERS Sergeant Boniscli lias organised two search parties from the Paliiatua dde of the Range. Constable lo Comte together with Messrs W. Bain,. CL Atkinson a d Garlirk left Palliate.t this morning whin* another parry in charge ot Messrs Lund and Rasmussen arc working in from Marima. The party from Marinin it will be remembered was the |v ty which brought in the bodv of the last voung man who met liis death lost in the* Tartirua Ranges.