PROSPECTORS AT BIG BAY

Southland Times, Issue 23586, 13 August 1938, Page 6

PROSPECTORS AT BIG BAY

FEARS FOR SAFETY GROUNDLESS SEARCHER FOUND MEN LAST SATURDAY The fears that have been entertained for the safety of two prospectors, Maurice Beveridge and William Don, of Hokitika, have proved groundless. They were found well and safe at Kaipo river last Saturday by Mr J. Blaikie, who went down from Big Bay to look for them. The men were on their way out to Big Bay when he met them. Kaipo river is the first river north of Martin’s Bay. This information was brought to the Invercargill police by Mr A. J. Bradshaw, who returned to Invercargill by air from Big Bay yesterday. The prospectors were landed at Kaipo Bay, about 30 miles north of Milford Sound in November last by the motorship Gale and they had not been seen or heard of since March.

On Thursday, July 28, Mr Blaikie arrived in Invercargill by aeroplane from Big Bay to inform the police that fears were felt for the safety of the men. More information was supplied to the police on July 29 by Mr Gordon Sharp, who also came out from Big Bay by aeroplane. Apparently the two men went down to Madagascar Beach, which is just short of Milford Sound, and established a camp there. They had provisions sufficient to last them for nine months and also timber for a flat-bottomed boat. Three weeks ago Mr David Gunn found part of a new flat-bottomed boat washed up on the south side of Big Bay. It was thought that it belonged to Don and Beveridge, but it is now known that it was not part of their boat.