RUNANGA CHILDREN

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1930, Page 1

RUNANGA CHILDREN

LOST IN RUSH ALL NIGHT.

There were fully one hundred men out on the hills behind Cobdeh hours before daybreak yesterday searching for a missing party of seven children and a man belonging to Runanga ,who had become lost in the bush the previous evening. On Saturday afternoon about 2.30 o’clock Mr Reg. Jackson, of Runanga* took the children

upon the heights for an outing, four of them being his own children, two others named Williams, and one

named Morris. The eldest was only nine years of age, and the youngest five years. They became bushed with the fall of darkness, after having proceeded some distance in the direction of Darky’s Terrace, and Mr Jackson decided that the wisest plan was to seek a sheltered spot and camp for the night. They were unable to light a fire, however, and were without any food. To ensure them warmth, Mr Jackson kept them' all close together They did not feel the cold to any extent until the morning ,and, despite the rainfall they weathered it well One boy \yas without boots. As soon as it was known they were missing search parties were formed in Runanga, one including the Mayor, Mr R. McTaggart, who all set out for the

hills. As their number’s grew, it is calculated fully a hundred joined in the search, which, however, until near the hour of daybreak, proved unsuccessful, despite vigorous volleys of “cooees” from dozens of throats

throughout the hours of darkness. It was about 5 a.m. that a party of searchers located the missing ones at

the top of Darky’s Terrace. Thence they effected an exit by way of Cobden, and after receiving food, they boarded a lorry and proceeded to tlieir homes at 10.45 a.m.