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Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 48

where they encountered such difficulties tliat they decided to retrace their steps. It was arranged that Wade should go on ahead, and on regaining the river should swim across again and bring the boat over, while Shaw would follow up with the stores. When the latter reached the river a couple of hours later he found Wade’s clothes on the bank, but there was no sign of Wade anywhere. Shaw shouted out, but got no reply. Thinking that possibly he might have been sheltering or resting somewhere out of hearing, Shaw made further fruitless attempts to arrest Wade’s attention. Then he decided to essay the crossing of the river himself on a horse which was grazing in the vicinity. He found the current too strong, and nearly lost his life in tlie attempt. A raft was the only other means of reaching the opposite side, and eventually Shaw- succeeded in crossing in this way. An inspection of the boathouse revealed the fact that the boat had not been hauled out. Shaw was then beset with fears that his mate had perished in the rlVef. He made an exhaustive search up and down the rivei* bank for a considerable distance, and combed the country round about with the hope of finding some trace of the missing man, but without avail. Shaw then took shelter in Mr Gunn’s unoccupied quarters, and, after waiting for about four days, he decided to make inland on foot over the 80 miles to civilisation. At this juncture a prospector named “ Arawata Bill,” who had been out at the Head of Lake Wakatipu, . arrived on the scene on his return to the coast. He lent his horse to Mr Shaw, and the journey to Elfin Bay was accomplished in four days. Mr Wade was about 33 years of age, and was' a married man with two children. His father, Mr Joseph E. Wade, is a farmer residing at Konini, Pahiatua. The deceased saw four years’ service in the Great War, signing off when only 21 years of age. The two men left Glenorchy on the fateful journey on March IG. A party has been organised to make a search for the missing man’s body. Mr Shaw will accompany the party out to the coast.