STILL NO TRACE

Southland Times, Issue 21998, 24 April 1933, Page 8

STILL NO TRACE

MISSING TRAMPERS SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS SEARCH DIFFICULT (Per United Press Association.) Masterton, April 23. The Citizens’ Search Committee took active steps to-day to despatch search parties into the Tararuas in quest of the missing trampers. A party left today for Mitre Flats and another is setting out to-morrow for the same place via a different route, and on Tuesday a base camp is to be established at the Flats. The Wairarapa Tramping Club party, which set out on Saturday for the headwaters of the Rumahanga River was blocked by flooded rivers. The weather last night was very cold, heavy rain falling accompanied by thunderstorms and a severe gale. The plight of the missing trampers must be serious. searcherFtroubles IN TOUCH BY SHORTWAVE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, April 23. Wellington shortwave operators are maintaining touch with the searchers for the missing Tararua trampers, whereof up to seven o’clock to-night there was no sign. A party of nine Wellington searchers could not reach their base owing to very bad weather. During the past three days weather conditions in the Tararuas have been unusually severe with strong winds, heavy rain and occasional hailstorms. There are also dense, low-lying clouds. A WEEK OUT INCREASED ANXIETY. (Per United Press Association.) Palmerston North, April 22. There is still no word from the four trampers who have been missing on the Tararuas since Saturday last. The weather conditions are bad, a storm sweeping the district last evening. Anxiety has greatly increased and the search is being intensified on both sides of the ranges. Another party of searchers left at mid-day.