Teachers Missing

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18534, 14 January 1932, Page 8

Teachers Missing

SURVIVOR DELIRIOUS.

MEN EXPERIENCED TRAMPERS. SEARCH PARTIES OUT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Dir Loney wandered inlo a mountain camp near the Taipoili River. He was completely exhausted and delirious. Mr Stuart D. Meares, vice-president of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, organised a search party of six, which left at noon to-day. The three teachers had had experience in mountains—Mr Robbins deerstalking, and the other two tramping in the same regions. With several search parties out it should be possible to search the rugged country about Harman's Pass fairly effectively. A strong westerly is blowing high up to-day, and the divide between Canterbury and the West Coast is obscured by clouds. Mrs Robbins said that the three teachers had been very enthusiastic over the trip, although her husband had expressed his misgivings because Messrs Smith and Loney did not think a guide was necessary. He had mentioned the possibility of fog, but his companions considered that a guide was not essential. All three men had: been to school and training college together. Messrs Smith and Loney. were, very fond of long walks, .and used to tramp hundreds of miles in their vacations. Two further reports, leeched Christchurch to-night, the llrst that two parties of prospectors .were in difficulties in the same region, and the second that another party of five school teachers hacf been lost in the storm. Until the search parties return to Bealey to-morrow neither of these reports can be confirmed. NO WORD FROM SEARCHERS. HOPE OF RESCUE FAINT. COUNTRY VERY 1 DIFFICULT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The task of rescuing K. Loney and C. Robbins, the missing trampers, is proving more difficult that was at first reckoned, and hope of finding the men a live is growing less among the people waiting at the Bealey.. Up till noon to-day no word had been heard from the rescue party it left the Bealey. yesterday morning. It is now. well over 24 hours since the searchers started. They have had ample time to have reached the Carrington Hut and returned to the Bealey had they been able to locate the missing men. Probably they will have to go deeper into the mountains. No word has been received from the Mountaineering Club’s party, which left tlie ' Bealey at six o’clock last night. It is believed that they have pushed on in the direction of Harman’s Pass. Over a score of searchers are engaged, and more will start to-day, including a party of police from Greymouth. It is feared that very little in the way of searching was done last night owing to the darkness. SEARCH BY AIR PROBABLE.

THE WEATHER UNFAVOURABLE,

(Bv Telegraph.—Press Association.) “ CHRISTCHURCH,' Thursday.

Aeroplanes may be sent from the Wigram aerodrome to assist in the search for the missing men. At present the westerly weather prevailing in the Alps would not be favourable to an aerial search, as. fog and mists extend from the Bealey to Coleridge. Should the weather change to a southerly and permission be received from headquarters at Wellington an aeroplane will leave Wigram at the earliest opportunity. \ NO NEWS RECEIVED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. No further news of the missing Alpinists has been received at 3 p.m. More searchers are leaving the Bealey. ANOTHER PARTY MISSING. PROSPECTING FOR GOLD. NO WORD SINCE DECEMBER 27. (By Telegraph.—Press. Association.) HOKITIKA, Thursday.

Mr Merle Sweney (son of the secretary of the Hokitika gasworks), aged 23 years, and Mr James P. Wilson, both of the Christchurch Training College, left on December 27 for the hills, for the purpose of prospecting for gold. They were to visit the Morpeth Hut and the Carrington Hut, arranging for their provisions, and then go over tho Mungo prospecting., They had an 801 b. swag of provisions and tin dishes, a rifle and ammunition.

There has been no word of them since they left.