Extensive Search For Girl In Tararuas

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1949, Page 5

Extensive Search For Girl In Tararuas

MASTERTON, Dec. 8. An all -out effort will be made this weekend on Monnt Holdsworth in the search for Merle Gwynne, 17-vear-old student of Solway College, who has been missing from the lower slopes of the monntain since Saturdav afternooi? At least 200 experieneed trampers are expeeted to join in the seaTeh operations. All tramping clubs in the Wellington province have eaneelled .their official trips this _ weekend and are throwing every available experieneed tramper into the search. Sightseers and picnic parties will not be welcomed in the area, the police advise, and only thoronghly experieneed tramp-, ers are wanted. Yesterdav the chief guide to the Tararua Tramping- Club (Mr. W. Bridge) aud the leader of the Y.M.C.A. •Tramping Club (Mr.. E. .T. Esler) met a party from Solway College at Bannister Hut. The partv- included a girl who was the last to see Miss Gwvnne, two teachers, the principal (Miss L. R. Todd), and Mr. G. M. Gwynne, the father of the missing girl. The group elimhed to the mountain house. The girls recoGTiised a patch of clearing near the Garrington turn-off where Miss Gwvnne was last seen. That area was before the Totara Flat branch. Miss Gwynne was wearing a white and hlne summer frock and was not attired in a dress in the school 's green e oi our Samples of the white and blne material have been shown to those engaged on the searcln When the samples were thrown into the bnsh they were easily seen. as white is the predominating colonr in the design. The large-scale search this weeke-nd is being carefnlly organised. Messrs. Bridge and Esler are conferring to organise the search so that every available piece of ground is thoroughly combed. The organisation is stated to he working like a piece of well-oiled machinery. The Wairarapa Radio Emergency Corps is giving excellent service in maintaining radio commnnications. Visiting trampers are wellequipped and experieneed. Dogs have heen taken into the area. hut with no success; It is stated that there is no thoroughly trained police dog in New Zealand capahle of adlier ing strictlv to the scent. The dogs in scaring goats and deer are actuallv more of a umsanee than an assistance.