LOST HUNTER'S SEVENTY HOUR ORDEAL IN KAIMANAWA RANGES

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 195, 21 October 1955, Page 1

LOST HUNTER'S SEVENTY HOUR ORDEAL IN KAIMANAWA RANGES

Mr.Alfred Reed, 29, married, of Foxton, was found wandering in a delirious condition at 9 a.m. on Tuesday last by Ranger P. Burstall, of Turangi, and Constable R. McNaughten, of Taupo, about a inile and a half from where his party had established their deer-stalking base camp on the previous Saturday. He had been lost some seventy hours in rough country in the Kaimanawa Range foothills eight or ten miles in from Hatepe Hydro-electric Power Station. The weather had been wet and stormy, with cold temperatures and snowfalls. Mr Reed was clad in shorts and shirt and had no food when he was lost. His brother Mr Micaiah Reed, and friend Alr T. S. Howell, also of Foxton, searched for him on Sunday when he failed to rendezvous with them on Saturday afternoon. Mr Howell reported to Constable W. D. Mills at Taupo on Sunday night, the missing man's brother remaining at the camp. Con. Mills orga'nised a search party at once, consisting of himself, Con McNaughten, Messrs A. J. Buckleigh and C. Thomas (Legion of Frontiersmen), Barry Thomas, Northcroft, Blake and Maniapoto, which started early on Monday morning with four packhorses and reached the hunters' camp about 6.30 p.m. Rangers P. Burstall and R. Van Wering, of Turangi, had reached the camp shortly before the Taupo party. Mr Poi Warbrick (Legion of Frontiersmen) tramped in to join the searchers early on Tuesday morning. The search started at first light on Tuesday. When found Mr Reed was obviously in bad shape from exposure in the bitter weather prevailing in the high country, but with assistance was able to walk back to the camp, where he collapsed. He was put to bed. Constable McNaughten reached the Hatepe Store about 2.30 -p.m. and reported by telephone to the Taupo Police Station that the missing man had been found. Remaining with the sick man at the base camp on Tuesday night were Messrs Burstall, Van Wering, and Howell. Constable Mills was 4to go in with four pack horses and a party early on Wednesday morning, and the Taupo St. John Ambulance Brigade's ambulance was to be at the Hatepe Power Station at 11 a.m. to receive the patient when he was ty-ought out. Sgt. D. Byrne and Detective-Sgt. A. G. Sharp, of Rotorua, who had come to Taupo in case extra help were needed, expressed their appreciation of the ready help given to the police by the Frontiersmen and other helpers. ^ number of other. Taupo men were ready on Tuesday to -relieve the search party members when word came of the missing man having been found.