HELP NEEDED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 522, 4 May 1933, Page 6

HELP NEEDED

REPLY BY TRAMPE'R'S Palmerston N., Wednesday. A statement issued by Dr. W. B. Sutch, on hehalf of the four Tararua trampers, says that an houjr after arrival at Masterton a,n explanation and appreciation from the trampers was written out. This seems either to have been delayed in the post or summarily condensed so that it was not recognisable as an official statement from the pai'ty. In view of this, and because several .inemct, misleading,, and even false reports appeared in some daily papers, says Dr. Sutch, the trampers wish to make clear their point of view. The purpose of the tramp was to cross from Te Matawai to the Holdsworth hut to see whether it would be possible to make a winter crossing. In other than winter conditions this was not a difficult trip. Trained trampers seveTral times had done it in a one-day stretch. "We took the risk of having to spend one night in the bush," he continued. -"but as we started out between 3 -and 4 o'cloclc in the morning, the iconting|ency was rathetr remote. When the storm struck us we were within three hours. of Mount Holdsworth." Broke Tramping Rules After detailing the equipment for the tramp and the experience of the party, Dr. Sutch continues that two things were done contrary to tramping rules. The first was to sidle round the Tararua pinnacles, instead of going over them, and the second was to leave the tops for the bush. The first action was due to the velocity of the wind, which was too great for the party to stick to the ridge. Similarly to leave the top was the only thing to do in the blizzard which was naging for .sonxe days. To work through the bush in the general dir--ection of the main range was pre - ferable to dying on the tops. Th e party was confined to the area on tiie ' east side of the main range, wiUh the main range as the ba.se o'f a triangle, the other two sides being t he rivers Waiohine and Waiohinepa.ti, both of which were raging torrents, and could not be forded. Theref ore they were trapped, and the only b.ope was to ,get across the main rs.nge I to Hector and Otaki. For six 'days I they attempted to get to the ridge, I through sleet and snow. I