MISSING MEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1926, Page 1

MISSING MEN.

PEAKS FOR PARTY. DUNEDIN, February 10. In October last tho National Mortgage and Agency Company sent William Beer, an experienced bushman, to the .Martin’s Bay district to bring out cattle, with the help of Malcolm and Hugh MeKeiv.ie. settlers in the district. Beer appears to have gone into Hie bush from Elfin Bay with three others—a man named Foxcroft, belonging to Auckland, a gold prospector from Dunedin and a musterer from Luinsden. The names of the last-mentioned are not known. Beer said on leaving that he did not expect to return till January. Nothing has been hoard or seen of the four since.

So far ns can be ascertained they arc not very much overdue, but anxiety is felt because Mr J. 0. Biggar of Lunisden. went into that part of the Martin’s Bay country at Now Year time for a holiday expedition, and on returning said lie had not come across, anybody, that the McKenzies were not at one of their stations, and lie could not get any response when lie managed to get near their other station. The outlet of a lake was in high flood, and he could not cross to visit that station. He lit a smoke fire and fired a gun, but received no answer to those signals. Biggar has consequently been engaged by the National Mortgage Company to go into the Martin’s Bay hush, in company with a man from Queenstown, and search for the missing men. The Police Department has also sent out parties from Westland and Southland. Mr Biggar expects to he hank on the ‘22nd or 23rd of this month. DIFFICULT COUNTRY. The country in which the McKenzie Bros homestead is situated is rugged in the extreme. The easiest access to it is liy Government steamer, which periodically traverses the West Coast flrrds There is a little-used track from Flfin Bay, on the shores of Lake Wakatipn, to the coast, but it is so rough that it is used only occasionally, even by tourists. The McKenzie Bros, have been engaged in cattle-raising at Martin’s Bay for a number of years, and they have no neighbours within scores of miles. They annually travel their cattle through dangerous rivers and over rugged, mountainous country via the head of Lake fe Anau, Mossburn and Lumsden, into Southland, where they are sold. The trip takes something like six weeks, but there is no other outlet. There is no question of overstocking on the McKenzie ranch there are scores of thousands of acres of excellent grazing country—-and the cattle leave on their long journey in the best of condition, hut by the lime they reach their destination there is not much of the condition left. Martin’s Bay is the farthest and most remote outpost of settlement in Now Zealand, to which visitors are few and far between. Periodically anxiety is aroused ns to the welfare of the hardy pioneers. However, they have never failed to turn np in the past, hut their absence from the ken of other folk seems to he unduly prolonged on the present, occasion.

LOCAL ACTIVITY. REPLY FROM HON J. O. ANDERSON. The Hon TT. L. Michel, M.L.C., wlio wired to the Minister of Marine (Hon .T. G. Anderson) suggesting the dispatch of a warship to assist in the search for the M’Kenzie Bros., has received the following reply from the Minister: — “Replying to your wire, I learn from Mr Rolleston, who is in charge of the Police Department that arrangements have already heon made for two experienced men to make a search. As be is also Minister of Defence I have submitted to him your suggestion that a warship he sent to Martin’s Bay. The Hon Mr Michel dispatched a wire this morning to the Minister of Defence (Hon F. .T- Rolleston) advising him that Mr Joseph Cnttance. of Hokitika who knows the south country particularly well, is willing to go with anv search party or warship if _ one proceeds to the Martin’s Pay region. Tf the Minister decides to send one of the New Zealand warships to assist in the senreli, Mr Cuttanee’s knowledge’should he of great assistance m directing and helping the hlne-jnckets. Mr T. F- Y. Seddon. M.P-. has been in communication with the Prime Minister (Mr Coates) relative to a comprehensive search for the missing men m the Sounds country. Mr Seddon as mentioned if a steamer were despatched Hr Cnttance and others who know the district well, would prohahlv go and assist in the search to find the men or their ■fntc. Charles Grey Foxcroft. one of the men who are missing wfFh the M’Ken-

zie Bros, and two others from the Martin’s Bay region, was the second hoy born at Greymouth. Ho is a brother of Mrs Mclntosh, senr., of Blnketown, and an uncle of Mr T. McIntosh, of Preston Road, the wellknown Rugby referee.