LOST ON EGMONT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 437, 19 May 1937, Page 4

LOST ON EGMONT

j ALL NIGHT SEARCH Tracks Of Missing Climbers At Lake Dive Leaving; Dawson Falls at 1.40 p.m. yesterday with the intention of climbing toward Fantham Pealk, Miss T. Field, of Nelson, and Mr Arnold Prestige, ot Matapu, failed to return to the mountain house last night and alarm is felt for their safety. Search parr.es operated during the night and from an early hour this morning, and this afternoon a report was received at Dawson Falls that tracks, believed to bq those of the missing climbers, were seen in the bush at Lake Dive. At 1.30 p.m. fresh parties of searchers set out for the locality, which is about 4000 feet up and approximately four miles from Dawson Falls. Parties of Stratford Mountain Club members left to-day to assist in the search. The lost climbers set out for Fan. tham Peak in fine clear weather but about 3 o’clock heavy clouds descended and rlain fell. Other parties' returned but on the non-appearance of Miss Field and Mr Prestige at dusk Mrs Prestige, wife of the missing man, who had remained at the hostel, gave the alarm and the police and Mr R. Syme were communicated with. Arrangements for a search party were made immediately. Last night was a particularly wild one, there being a strong northerly gale and heavy rain. The conditions were extremely difficult for searching. Ag the conditions became unj favourable for climbing within an : hour of the time of the departure of lhe lost party it was thought by autborities that Miss Field and Mr ; Prestige would not have climbed to | any great height and that there was j a possibility ot their having left the i track on the descent and become ! lost in the bush.