A BARE HOPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 183, 7 August 1935, Page 7

A BARE HOPE

Missing Airman May Be Alive SEARCHERS’ THEORIES WOULD FOLLOW RANGITIKEI RIVER (Ter Press Association ) AYA I Pl’K UR AU. Aug. There is a bare hope that. Mr. Hamish Armstrong, tho Akitio airman, who has been missing since his aeroplane became lost when he was flying to Hastings on July 21, is still alive. This is the view of Captain F. L. Forde, of Tarnpu Station, Tikokino. the leader of an official party which returned late last evening after visiting the place near fe'hut-eye Hutt, in thc Ruahine Ranges, where thc aeroplane was found on Sunday by a party of tramp era. Captain Forde, in an interview, said that the weather considerably hampered the searchers. It would have been dangerous for them to have stayed more than an hour or so in the strong, cohl wind which swept the slopes. There were deep drifts of snow which was not likely to thaw for a month or more. He believed that if Mr. Armstrong had escaped injury he would bar? followed thc course of the Rangitikei River. Accordingly, said Captain Forde, he was making arrangements for a search party to follow the river down, to meet another party working up from the western side.

Flying-Officer G. R. White, who accompanied the official party, could find nothing frm a careful examination of the aeroplane to suggest that Mr. Armstrong would be badly injured, if at all, in the forced landing. SEARCH PARTIES AVIATOR'S SHEEP DOGS EMPLOYED MIST AND LIGHT RAIN. I Press Association. ] HASTINGS, Aug. 6. In addition to a party of four who, set out this morning to continue, if necessary, for ten days the search for Mr. Hamish Armstrong, another party of four, with Mr. Armstrong’s own sheep dogs, is to leave early to-morrow morning to give further assistance. The party which left this morning have not been in communication with anyone but , it is assumed that they must have had an uncomfortable day. Heavy passing mist and light rain covered the lower part of the range throughout thc day, which rendered visibility for any distance impossible, but after dark this evening a wind sprang up which may have the effect of clearing thc atmosphere. OTHER PARTIES OUT. WAIPUKURAU. Aug. 6. The official party organised by Constable Moss and Captain Forde, with headquarters at Mr. I). I’reston’a farm, at Wakarara, which left for the scene of tho wrecked ’plane after 11 o’clock this morning, commenced to climb to the Ruahine Range at 11.50. It comprised an experienced quartette of sturdy Hawke’s Bay settlers, Messrs. Sydney G. Stanford, John Coldstream, and Alexander Coldstream, all of Ruaroa, Dannevirke, and Albeit Hutt, of Ongaonga. With two dogs they will concentrate*on a search around the ’plane and the western side of the range. It is also understood that they intend traversing thc upper reaches of thc Rangitikei River, following its course, as possibly had the ill fated airman. A further party, consisting of tho two Rose brothers, of Akitio Station, leave tomorrow to assist in the search, taking with them Mr. .Hamish Armstrong’s two dogs. They will join tho official party. Misty rain prevailed at Wakarara and the Ruahine Ranges throughout the day, and indications this evening are that snow is falling. Conditions are increasingly unfavour:iblc.