NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 June 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

HEROIC SELF-SACRIFICE. THE EGMONT FATALITY. HOW MR. A. AMBURY DIED. TRIED TO SAVE FALLING MAN. SLIDE OF OVER 1200 FEET, > N7&F PLYMOUTH, June 5. Later accounts of the fatality on Mount Egmont, on Monday afternoon show that the death of Mr. Arthur Ambury, who is a nephew of Mr. S. J. Ainbury, of Auckland, was the outcome of a heroic attempt to save the other victim of the tragedy, Mr. W. E. Gourlay.

Three young men, Messrs. Gourlay, MacDonald, and Fookes, left the Mountain House early on Monday morning and reached the summit at 12.15 p.m. The climbing was very heavy ,and they had to cut steps in the ice for a considerable portion of the way. During the descent, which was commenced at 12.45 p.m. Mr MacDonald slipped, but saved himself with his alpenstock, and by coming into contact with a large block of ice. Mr* Fookes, went to the assistance of Mr MacDonald, and, with difficulty, brought him back to the track and proceeded to help him down. When about the 7000 ft. mark, he saw another party below, to whom he signalled for help. Mr. Fookes left Mr. MacDonald to be helped by the members of the new party, amongst whom was Mr. Ambury, and, with the latter, returned to assist Mr Gourlay, who was in difficulties.

When Mr. Ambury had nearly reached Mr. Gourlay, the latter appears to have slipped and slid down the ice, gaining tremendous momentum. Mr. . Ambury, displaying the the greatest heroism, took a chance aof saving the falling man, which, as an experienced climber, he must have known was a remote one. Sticking his alpenstick fast in the ice, and securing a firm foothold, he atempted to check Mi\ Gourlay in his descent. The impact upset him, broke the alpen stock, and the two men slid over 1200 ft., a tremendous pace, into a deep gully to the left of Humphrey's Castle. The other men returned to the Mountain House, Dr. Wade, of New Plymouth, was summoned, and on his arrival a search party was organised* Dawson Falls House was also communicated with, and Guide Murphy and others made a fast trip round '. the mountain to help in the searexKr The bodies were found fearfully mutilated. Owing to the darkness it, was impossible to remove them that night, but on Tuesday morning a party of 20 men, undpr'Guide Murphy, with the New Plymouth brdaght the bodies in under very difficult condiditions

FROZEN MEAT IN STORE. THREE MILLION STERLING PAID ON ACCOUNT. .WELLINGTON, June 6. Representations v/ere made by the Minister of Finance on behalf of the New Zealand Government, urging the Imperial Government to pay for meat now held in store in New Zealand on account o'f the Imperial Government, valued at about four millions. The accumulation, of course, is due v to the acute shortage of refrigerated shipping which was withdrawn "and diverted from the Colonial trade. The matter was taken up by the Higb. v Commissioner for New Zealand, who now advised Hon. Myers, Acting-Min-ister of Finance, that a sum of three millions has been paid by the Imperial Government to the credit of New Zealand public account in Londonyon account of meat stored' in New Zealand. This payment will minimise the difficulties of finance which producers have had to face under the above-mentioned conditions, and will be heartily welcomed By all interested throughout the Dominion.