MISSING TRAMPERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 104, 15 February 1950, Page 2

MISSING TRAMPERS

SEARCH TO BE MADE (P.A.) WANGANUI', February 14. Arriving at Tokaanu on Monday evening, two trampers, David Cooper and Athol Crosby, reported to the police that they had lost their two companions, Russell Aitken and Brian Timmings, on Thursday afternoon in high country to the north of the headwaters of the Rangitikei River. All four trampers are students of Auckland University. After searching last Friday and finding no trace of their companions, Cooper and Crosby decided to seek assistance and spent three days making their journey to Tokaanu. , . , . The complete party spent the night of February 4 at Waihoni Hut, and left the next day to tramp to Rangitaiki on the Napier-Taupo Road, the route to be followed being up the Aipakihi stream and along the high country at the headwaters of the Rangitikei, Ngaruroro and Mohaka Rivers, the estimated time to cover the distance being about eight days. The overdue pair have sufficient food for seven days and should they decide to continue to v ßangitaiki they should he successful in covering the ground, according to Mr T. Shoot, warden of National Park. In spite of the recent heavy rain it is x thought that Aitken and Timmings will he able to reach safety.

• Arrangements have been made with the Wangantii police to send out a search plane if no trace of the overdue pair is found within the next 24 hours.