LOST ON MOUNTAIN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 7

LOST ON MOUNTAIN.

PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONER’S PLIGHT. (Per Press Association.) ELTHAM, last night. William Murray, Presbyterian Missioner, aged sixty (years, belonging to Normanby, has been lost on Mount Egmont since yesterday. A party consisting of Mr. Murray, the Rev. J. Orange (Elthnm). Mr. R. Thomas (Wanganui), and Mr. G. Cook (Kaponga), made the ascent from Dawson Falls house to the summit early yesterday, intending to descend on the other side to the North Egmont house.

Mr. Murray disagreed on the route chosen and refused in spite of argument, to listen to the appeals of the others and insisted on travelling a dangerous gorge, down which the others perforce followed, though a return the same way appeared impossible. Meanwhile Mr. Cook returned to Dawson Falls house for assistance, Mr. Orange and Mr. Thomas following "Murray and keeping in (ouch, by shouting, to which Mr. Murray shortly refused If, reply and eventually his followers lost touch and could not follow his tracks. They unsuccessfully attempted to return up the steep cliffs but eventually cut a stairway back to the summit, returning to Dawson Falls house late in the evening.

There was no further word this morning from North Egmont. so search parties went out. but Air. Orange collapsed and bad to return. Two parties were out to-day, and Mr. Orange and Mr. Thomas returned to the mountain to-night to participate in a further search to-morrow.