Men missing as snow falls

Press, 1 July 1983, Page 1

Men missing as snow falls

Nelson reporter Three men are missing in the Mount Arthur region, west of Nelson. The police ■ mounted a search yesterday afternoon after the three failed to return from a tramping trip, begun on Monday morning. Heavy snow has fallen and there is concern for their safety. The three men are the Rev. Eric Mattock, aged 37 a Presbyterian Minister, of Richmond and Messrs Cliff Dockery, aged 40, of 37 Shelbourne Street, Nelson, and Harry Naylor, aged 60, of Hill Street, Richmond. The search co-ordinator in Nelson, Senior-Sergeant A. P. Barber, said last evening that the men’s vehicle had been found at the parking bay of the Flora Hut, below Mount Arthur. They had intended going to the Ellis Basin in the Mount Arthur range and were due to walk out yesterday afternoon.

The police were informed at 3 p.m. yesterday that they had not returned. A four-man police party

was immediately sent into the area by helicopter. It landed at the Ellis Hut and discovered a note that the party had left to return to the Flora Hut, just above the Flora car-park. The police were then airlifted to the Mount Arthur Hut, between the Ellis Hut and the Flora Hut (two hours walk above the Flora). x Heavy snow in the last two days may have caused problems for the three men. It will certainly prove troublesome for ground searchers. Experienced trampers say the Ellis Hut is a hard day’s journey from the Flora Hut and is in high country which is bound to be snow covered. There are alternative routes out — none that would take them back to their car — but they may have decided on one of these because of the poor conditions. There are also huts in these areas.

Forest Service personnel, under Sergeant R. Moore, of Motueka, will go into the area this morning and another party has been alerted to back them up.