UNAVAILING SEARCH

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 5

UNAVAILING SEARCH

( Per Press Associatiov-J

No Sign Of Girl Missing In Tararua Ranges

MASTERTON, Dec. 6. Though the mtensive search continues m the Tararua Ranges, no orace has yet been found of .the missing girl, Miss Merle Gwynne, aged 17, daughter of the pqst-r master at Masterton, who was lost on Mt. Holdsworth on Saturday afcernoon. ' Widespread air and ground operations have >been carried out by R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft and police and tramping club members, but up to 11.30 a.m. today had proved unavailing. A party of 20 trampers left Wellington at 6 a.m. today to help in the search. Four members ftf th6 Levin - Waiopehu Tramping Club, Messrs. N. M. Thomson, L. Edwards, A. Seddon and M. Bishop, planned to ieave Levin about 5 p.m. today for Bannister Hutt. They will take part in the search, relievmg others who have been engaged in the operations ever since Saturday, The air search was abandoned today because of heavy mist and rain, which made visibility nil. When Miss Gwynne and 37 other girls from Solway Coilege left Bannister Hut shortly ufter 1.30 p.m. on Saturday to climb the mountain they were wearing raincoats, school blazers and cardigans. As the weather was warm the raincoats were left at the foot of the track, and apparently the missing girl took her cardigan off at some stage, as it was found by one of the first search parties. Three competent teachers, who" are experienced trampers, were in charge 'of the party. Went Ahead. The girls were m groups of four or more as a precaution against accident. More active than her companions, Miss Gwynne, according to other members of the party, i found the pace too slow for her and ' went ahead to join the next group. She was not sepn again. It is thought she was last seen standing on a promontory looking down on the remainder of her group toiling up the slope. That was 'between Rocky Lookout and the Mountain Hut, at an altitude of about 3000 feet. Miss Gwynne was not missed till the party reached the bottom of the track on the return journey. It was then about 5.15 p.m. After the party had picked up their raincoats it was found there was one over. A checkf revealed that Miss Gwynne was missing. The girls were sent back to coilege by bus and the police were notified. Meanwhile two of the teachers, Misses N. W. Canon and B. Day, remained behind and went over the track again. • When the first search party, which included Miss Todd and Mr. Gwynne, arrived, they proceeded to the Mountain House and returned to Bannister Hut expecting to find Miss Gwynne there with the two teachers. How'ever, the search by both parties had . been unavailing and further assistance was recruited.