THE MISSING TRAMPERS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3629, 23 April 1927, Page 3

THE MISSING TRAMPERS

STILL NO TRACE,

OVER SIXTY SEARCHERS OUT.

No tidings of the two yeouths, Desmond Scanlon and Roy Diederich —who set out from Levin last Thursday week in an attempt to cross the Tararua Range to the Wairarapa, but have not since been heard of—have been received up to the time of going to Press this afternoon.

It is now estimated that close on sixty experienced trampers are engaged in the search. Masterton, Last

Searchers who returned from the top of the range to-night state that the parties are converging on the basin lying between Mitre Peak and the Ohau Valley, where experienced bushmen and trampers consider the missing men are located. A consignment of homing pigeons was packed into the lower range today for quick dispatch to Masterton of any news of the missing men. A public subscription has been opened to provide the searchers with food. MORE SEARCH PARTIES LEAVE LEVIN. Messrs G. L. Adkin, W. H. Walker, W. Stewart and ,G. Gapper left Levin at 6.30 a.m. yesterday in an endcavoulr to locate the (missing trampers. They entered the ranges from Tawhirikohukohu and intend to make a thorough search of the lower range. A second party consisting, of Messrs F. E. Parker, W. Peters, J. Cooper, Honore (junr)., and J. Sadd set out at 10 a.m. OTAKI AND MANGAHAO HELPING.

A party of six left Otaki last night for Otaki Forks and would set out upon their search at daylight. Arrangements had also been made for experienced men to leave Mangahao Public Works Camp this morning to scour the valleys in the vicinity. • n

When the above parties set out it will mean that about GO searchers will be at work on both sides of the ranges.

AERIAL SEARCH SUGGESTED. Writing to the Levin “Chronicle,” a correspondent makes useful suggestion of an aerial search. He says:—So far the search parties have had no success in their endeavour to find the missing lads. Why not call in the aid of the aeroplane service. These were utilised to survey the flooded country round Foxton recently. Why not utilise them when it is a question of human life? The engine of a ’plane can be heard at a long distance off and the lost party would be able to prepare a fire' or other means of letting the pilot know their whereabouts, and provisions could be, dropped with instructions what to do.