STALKERS FOUND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1939, Page 5

STALKERS FOUND

TWO NIGHTS SPENT IN OPEN MEN RETURN TO HUT SEARCHERS EXPERIENCE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) LEVIN, June 7. The search party under the leadership of Mr N. M. Thompson, which left Levin last night to look for Mr Francis Corrison Swanwick and Mr Herbert Pickering, who have been missing in the Tararua Ranges since Saturday, arrived at the Te Matawai hut at 12.45 p.m. today to find the missing stalkers there. They had arrived there last evening. On Sunday, Messrs Swanwick and Pickering becaine bushed and spent an unenviable night in the open. On Monday they climbed to the top of an unknown ridge, but could not get theii’ bearings, and returned to the bush, where a rough shelter was made for the night. Yesterday they set out to make an effort to find familar country and succeeded in reaching Mt Thomson, and came over to Te Matawai, via Mt Carkeek, Mt Lancaster and Mt Arete. The effects of their exposure made it impossible for them to undertake the remaining nine hours’ journey to Levin today. The finding of the stalkers was reported by Messrs N. M. Thomson and R. Webb, who came straight back to Levin, arriving at 8.30 o’clock tonight. Theii - return via the River Ridge with the river in flood was an exceptionally difficult journey. Messrs W. Harris, T. A. Kerslake, A. Hayward and C. Wilkinson,' the other members of the party, are remaining at the hut to accompany the two stalkers when they are fit enough to make the journey. A second search party which left at 3 p.m. today was met by Messrs Thomson and Webb, and returned with them to Levin tonight. Much credit for the organisation of the search parties is due to Mr Kerslake, secretary of the Levin Tramping Club, who acted in collaboration with Constable S. Baker and Constable S. R. Herccck.

MASTERTON PARTY. PREPARATIONS MADE LAST NIGHT. In response to a broadcast appeal and notices displayed on shop windows, a number of Masterton residents called at the police station last night to offer their services in a search for the stalkers. In addition to the Masterton search committee, the volunteers included a number of trampers, deer-stalkers, and senior boy scouts. Business men also intimated their willingness to provide provisions and transport. Complete arrangements had been made for an early start this morning, when advice was received that the men had been found.