Popular Rambler Swept to Death

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 May 1927, Page 1

Popular Rambler Swept to Death

RUAPEHU TRAGEDY FLOOD-SWOLLEN STREAM (From Our Own Correspondent.') OHAKUNE, Sunday. ATISSING his footing in a floodswollen stream on Mount Ruapehu, Mr. Horace Arthur Holl, of Auckland, was swept to his death, before the eyes of his companion, who spent the night in the open and next day secured a search party and recovered the body. 'J'HE body was retrieved by the search party on Sunday morning. Mr. Holl was accompanied by Mr. J. Bartrum, also of Auckland, on a jour-

ney to a favourite camping site on the upper reaches of the sulphur stream Mangaturuturu. Setting out from Pokaka about noon on Friday, the pair encountered heavy rain and snow. The route entails much traversing of the stream, which is of a most treacherous character, its waters being quick to rise and exceptionally swift. Huge boulders are continually on the move in flood time. When about six miles up stream and within reach of safer travelling, Mr. Holl was overpowered by the current. He was burdened with a 301 b pack and was carried away like a cork.

A pack horse was between the unfortunate man and his companion, thus preventing immediate assistance. The accident occurred at about 4 p.m. Mr. Bartrum searched until dark, and then, spent the night in the bush, and communicated with the police on Saturday. The search party set forth under trying conditions. Snow, lightning, and thunder attending their search. The body was found about two miles below the scene of the tragedy, caught in a snag. A great part of the clothing was torn off. Mr. Holl was a popular rambler of the National Park and Mount Ruapehu, and was a competent guide.

INTREPID CLIMBER

BRILLIANT MATHEMATICIAN jPJOLL’S ROCK, a precipice on the south side of NgarLiahoe, in the National Park, was named as a tribute to Mr. Horace Arthur Holl, 8.A., who was an intrepid Auckland mountaineer. jVTR. HOLL, who was 45 years of age, and the principal of the University Coaching College, leaves a widow and two young children residing at Devonport. He was born in England, and took his B.A. with honours at Emmanuel College. Cambridge. After teaching in the English public schools for some years. Mr. Holl came to New Zealand, where he founded the coaching college at Auckland. He was a brilliant mathematician. His mountaineering activities became so widely known that Mr. Holl was at one time asked to take charge of the Hermitage at Mount Cook, but he declined the offer. His knowledge of the National Park was most extensive. Two other tragedies have taken place on Ruapehu. Mr. W Dingham lost his life in 1913 in the Manganui-a-te-ao stream while descending. Mr. E. Rockel died from exposure on the mountain two years later. On the other hand 12 lives have been lost on Mount Egmont, and no fewer than seven deaths have taken place since 1913, the year of the first recorded death on Mount Ruapehu.