ON THE TARARUAS.

Otaki Mail, 7 January 1920, Page 3

ON THE TARARUAS.

CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF PARTY.

Considerable anxiety is being felt as to the safety of a party, comprising Miss Louise Mack (war correspondent and journalist, who has been. staying at the Otaki seaside resort), Mr A. B. Knox and Miss Knox (his daughter), who reside at the Otaki Porks. Miss Mack and Mr Knox climbed Table Top, together with a number of other ladies and men, on Friday last, it bciug their intention to go right through to Woodside. Peg was encountered on the hills, however, ami all returned. VJJiss Mack, 'toyed for -be night at the hut on the ridge (about an hour’s walk beyond the Forks), Mr Knox returning home. On Sunday morning Mr Knox and his two daughters went to the hut, and Miss Mack, Miss Knox and Mr Knox started off up the track, intending to go right across the mountains. Mr Knox’s other daughter returned home. Nothing more lias been heard of the party. It commenced to rain an hour or two after the party left tlio camp, and it is . quite possible that they returned to the t camp, though it is thought more likely that they went right on, and sheltered in the bush. • The weather was very wet , again on Monday, and there was much mist on the mountain tops both Sunday and Monday. If the party pushed right ahead, they might possibly make the Mount Alpha hut on Sunday night, but 'it wpnld be a big day’s walk for those not in good fettle. Even if they reached Mount Alpha, they would scarcely venture further before yesterday morning, owing to bad weather. In any case they would be unable to cross the Tauherenikau river, which is un- j bridged, before yesterday. j Mr Jvnox is a sturdy settler, a ecus- j I tome cl to hill-climbing. Moreover, he I is a careful man, not at all likely to I take unnecessary risks, which causes j us to think that the party has taken shelter at Mount Alpha hut, or at some I suitable sport cn route, which accounts for their delay. "While we think it unlikely that the absence of news means any serious[ trouble, the situation naturally causes" considerable uneasiness, as the moun-j Ss tain tops are certainly dangerous in bad; I weather, and undoubtedly very ba ■ j 'weather would be met- with on Sunday and Monday. There is always the pi).- - j

' tiibility, too, of accidents happening. ■ ' The secretaries of the Otaki am ■ Grcytown Tararua Track Committee: (Messrs IT. Nicolson and Mark Maxtor respectively) have kept in close toad with one another in regard lo the matter, and also with the Tararua Tramp ing Club,'Wellington. Dp to mid-day today no word had reached the Greyfov. r committee re the party. The Greytov. r committee held two meetings this morning. and at noon Constable Mcli.fyr< and Mr A. L. Webster set off on a re lief expedition, intending to go a - fa -. —hs Mount Alpha, if necessary, via tk'"Tauhercnikau. iY 1 A party, comprising Messrs W. 1 GRussling, Corrigan and Knutson, l-'i (the Otaki Porks at about 11 a.in. tu- ' day. making for Mount Alpha (via . Table Top. If nothing definite is ,heard this afternoon, two parties will) sent from Wellington by the Tramp ing Club lo assist, in the search. One will go up the Mount Merchant ir. ok towards Mount Omega, and' the other take the Pukuratahi track, via tbe Quoin, to Mount Alpha. Many offers of help have been received, ami every precaution is being taken in case anything serious has happened, bnhope and believe that news v ill soon come through that the party is Gjuite safe. - j