ARDUOUS SEARCH

Southland Times, Issue 24756, 29 May 1942, Page 5

ARDUOUS SEARCH

ARREST OF TWO MEN (P.A.) DUNEDIN,' May 28. After a long and arduous search on horseback over the snow-covered slopes of the Raggedy Range constables, who were accompanied by a party of volunteers, arrested two men who, it is alleged, forced an entrance into the Lauder railway station on Sunday night. The men had escaped from an institution and will not appear before the Court They were first seen in the district last Friday heading for the Ida Valley. Two constables with local volunteers immediately made a search, but without success. On Monday morning the burglary of the Lauder station was discovered and a further patrol was made of the district. A constable saw the men two miles north of Lauder. They imine diately took to flight and waded the Manuherikia river. They were immersed up to their necks and one was seen to be obviously exhausted and to lie on the bank. Before the constables came up, however, they disappeared. The police followed and scoured the rough country till dark, but once again the men eluded them. A wide and intensive search was resumed on Tuesday, when a message was received from a settler that one of his huts on the Raggedy Range had been used. Shortly after the police party caught up with the men and arrested them.