SAFE AT CHATEAU.

Wairarapa Age, 2 September 1931, Page 5

SAFE AT CHATEAU.

Ruapehu Trampers Rescued Except One. CONDITION GENERALLY GOOD. STANTON STILL MISSING. SEARCH TO CONTINUE TO-DAY. WELLINGTON, September 1. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following from the Postmaster at The Chateau, timed 10 p.m.:— “All the rescued members of the mountaineering party with the exception of Stanton are now at The Chateau. Their condition generally is good. Search parties are camped at various parts for the night and will recommence the search for Stanton at dawn.” An earlier message received from the Postmaster at The Chateau' timed 8.50 pm., read: “The, following rescued members of the mountain party are expected to arrive at The Chateau at 11 p.m.: Miss Rennie, Miss Brockett, Mr. Harris. Condition fairly good. The only member of the entire party now unaccounted for is Mr. Stanton.” The 'Secretary of the General Post Office was advised by the Postmaster at Taumarunui at 7.50 p.m., as follows:— “The Chateau reports that Miss Morris and Jack Graham have reached there and are in fair condition.” (Warwick Stanton, aged 19, is a son of Mr. J. Stanton, City Solicitor, Auckland. A message states that Mr. and Mrs. Stanton are at The Chateau and are cheerful. An uncle, Mr. G. A. Stanton, went out to help in the search.) MISS BROCKETT. CONDITION REPORTED FAIRLY GOOD. According to a'dviee- received in Masterton last night by telephone from The Chateau, Miss Brockett is not suffering from frostbite, and although she is weak, her condition is reported to be fairly good. DETAILS OF RESCUE. HOW GRAHAM AND MISS MORRIS WERE FOUND. DISCOVERED BY CHANCE. THE CHATEAU, September 1. The party which found Graham and Miss Morris consisted of Messrs. M Peterson, G. Floyd, D. Haddick and A. Rogers, of Horopito. They were section party 17, which left The Chateau this morning to search the Whakapapaiti Valley. Their discovery was apparently made by chance. They intended spending the night out and at noon were looking for a suitable place in which to establish a camp to which they could return at nightfall. They were then in a clearing at the head of the Mahuia Stream, dtj the base of Mt. Hauhungatahi ' and Munged into the outskirts of the bushagain. Peterson had only taken a few steps when he saw Graham and Miss Morris lying on the. ground. They were surprisingly fit and knew that help was near and had been cooeeing but Peterson’s party had taken their cries to be those of other searchers. They told Peterson that Harris, Miss Rennie and Miss Brockett had been with them half an hour previously but had gone off in an attempt to get to the Haunted Whare. The only news from this party received so far was brought back by Messrs. I. Haddick and J. Brown, two searchers who joined Peterson’s party an hour after, they found Graham and- Miss Morris. Peterson then, had a ‘fire going and Graham and Miss Morris were drinking coffee. Haddick was . only t“ ere a few minutes, hurrying away with Brown to bring news to The Chateau. He gained the impression, however, that the party had been camping there for some time and had had a email fire burning. The" spot they were in was sheltered and fairly dry. They were both surprisingly strong,, considering they had been opt.for four days and thred nights. Neither appeared to be frostbitten on the face, but Haddick noticed the .girl’s hands were bandaged. They Stated that they tad been greatly cheered by the aeroplane which passed over them early this morning. Steps were immediately taken to send other searchers in the vicinity off in the direction in which they stated Harris and Misses Bennie and Brockett had gone, but no news has been received here yet whether these three have been located. An attempt is being made to bring Graham and Miss Morris out of the bush to-night.—(P.A.) '