NO TRACE FOUND

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1932, Page 4

NO TRACE FOUND

OF THE MISSING DEERSTALKER. RETURN OF THE SEARCH PARTY. After ten days’ exhaustive search for Alfred John Callings, who has been inivising for over four weeks, Constables* R. Drummond, of Kanieri, and Horne, of Reefton, and Mr 'A. R. Orcpp,' Koiter&ugi, returned to Hokitika, but their efforts were not rewarded by any further trace, and - it i- accepted that Ceilings has met hs fate in some inaccessible spot in the desolate back country in the vicinity of the Whitcombe Pass. Miserable conditions were experienced, there being only one fin e day, while rain and fog considerably, handicapped their movements. I,t *was only an intimate knowledge of the district that enab'ed the search to. be continued at times.

Later inquiries have elicited the fact that Colling* was not Fully, equipped. •He left the bulk of his gear at the junction of the Whitcomb® *and Hokitika rivers, where he was ferried ac r osi bv Mr W. Ritchie, of Koiterangi, on .September 23. That was the last occasion upon which he was seen, and untiling more was seen or heard °t Coilings until Constable, Drummond and Mr Cropp, as the result of inquiries, get out in search!, and, about two week* ago came on other parts of Ins equipment at Frew’s Creek,

Here, Codings’ dog was found, alive but very Aveak, and, with the knowledge of ‘what Codings 'had in his nack when he set out, and what he had left behind, it is known that he •could not have had much with! him after leaving his dog, wh’d e he had only a very feAV rounds of ammunition. It is thought that Coiling", had no intention of going very far from here. He Avas greatly attached to his dog, and Avould not have left it had he intended going any distance. An intensive SAveeping examination of the: surrounding country, of th 3 ranges at, the back, yielded no further trace, and; the party returned, arriving at Hokitika last evening. It is known that Codings Avas advised by different persons against making the journey aloue.