UNFOUNDED FEARS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1931, Page 4

UNFOUNDED FEARS

FOR PROSPECTINC PARTY NOT HEARD OF FOR THREE WEEKS. DIARY CLEARS AWAY DOUBT, The willingness with which residents of . Westland are prepared to form search parties To give succour and aid to unfortunate ones who have become lust m the backblocks, was again in evidence during the holidays. On December 6lh, a par'y of three men, Messrs Howard Smith, Herbert Lewis Smith, and Thoma-s Smith Cay, all recent arrivals to the Coast, left Hokitika with the intention of going prospecting .in the vicinity of Mungo river. They were equipped for' '.heir calling, and had sufficient food to last them for a fortnight. The last, place of call made in "civilisation’ was - , at the homo of Mr William Ritchie, at Koiterangi, roughly 40 miles away from the rMungo river. They started up through the Hokitika Gorge, past the junction of the Hokitika and Whitcomb© rivers, where a base camp, was established at the Government hut. On the night of December 24th., the Hokitika polio© received information that the- party had not been seen, and feats were eiv tertained for their safety, as the men were strangers to the locality. It was thought that some disaster had overtaken the men and a party was immediately organised by Constable Drummond, of Ivanieri. When the news was bruited abroad? offers to join the party were received from all quarters, the people display* ing that trait of character which is typical of the district. In addition to Constable Drummond, the party included Messrs Bert Cropp, Victor Pawson and Arthur Woolhouse. They started for the junction in the early hours of last Saturday morning, carrying supplies, and reached the hut at the junction without loss of time. On arrival at the hut they found a diary written up to the previous Tuesday, December 21st,. which showed that the prospectors had arrived there on the Bth and had established a base camn. At the time the search party arrived, the prospectors were at the Mungo River. The diary states that the men were all fit and well, and had plenty of fond, deer being numerous. They expected to return to civilisation at the end of the month. Satisfied that their services were not required, the geareh party returned. Despite the fact that their trip was in vain, the fact remains that the individual members showed no hesitation in offering themselves for the trip, and the spirit that has been shown i,n this, as well as other occasions, is fully appreciated by the community.