SEARCHERS OUT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 97, 18 January 1935, Page 10

SEARCHERS OUT

Missing Camper in Waiohine Area DIFFICULT LOCALITY Four search parties, comprising altogether 15 members of the Tararua Tramping Club, left 'Wellington yesterday afternoon to search for Harold Goodman, of Greytown, who was then three days overdue in returning from a three weeks’ camping trip up the Waiohine River. Mr. Goodman left Greytown early on Christmas morning on his long trip to the head of- the river, intending to take about ten days in travelling each wav. He had plenty of food with him, and he had tramped over the same country some years previously. AYJth his failure to return in time the possibility arises that he might have met with ap accident. On Tuesday and Wednesday, two parties from Greytown went up the river for a few miles, but could not find him. Yesterday a party was organised by Constable Gregor to undertake a more extensive search from Greytown, while the four ■Wellington parties will begin their search, from Otaki, Kaitoke, Woodville and Masterton respectively. In the next three days the ’Wellington searchers plan to cover the upper reaches of the Waiohine river. If no further word is received by Saturday other parties from the combined Wellington clubs will leave on that day. ■ Appeal for Information. An appeal for all possible information concerning Mr. Goodman in Hie past t.hree weeks has been received for circulation by “The Dominion” from the secretary of the Tararua club. He tisks that tramners who have been in the gorge within that time should report to the club details about any solo Hampers they happened to see. It appears that Mr. Goodman had an objective which he did not disclose. He made the trip an the river 12 years ago. and it is possible that on the latest trip he made for the same place. InforiTUition concerning the first trip is required by the searchers. Formidable Gorge. The Waiohine River Hows through rough country in a series of gorges. One of these gorges was traversed by a party of surveyors about. 30 years ago: tlidy came through alive after an accident which came close to a drowning fatality. There appears to bo no record of 'the goi'ge having been traversed since then, as parties have deviated from the river at this part. In a search for four missing tramperg in the gorge about 18 mouths ago one party spent four hours travelling along one mile of the river. The only iuforniation so far received by search parties concerning Mr. Goodman’s objective was that he intended to "■O “up the river.” Whether or not he intended to deviate from the particular gorge is unknown.