MOUNTAIN GRAVE - LATE MR. RALPH WOOD - PARTY HAS TO LEAVE BODY
(By Telegraph—Press Association.)
The party from the Waitopehu Tramping Club which left Levin at 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning to bring in the body of Mr. Ralph Wood, who died from exposure and exhaustion on the Tararuas on Sunday night, arrived back at 10 o'clock this morning.
The party, after making a survey of all the ridges and outlets from where the deceased was left, considered it quite impossible to bring the body out. A grave was dug in the rock just above the track on the western face of Twin Peak. After a short service, the body was laid to rest. The grave is marked, being surrounded by a ring of stones with a cross at the head, on which a bunch of wild mountain flowers was tied.
The party experienced an arduous trip by reason of the damage caused by Sunday's cyclone. For the greater part of the time they were scrambling over fallen trees. Owing to the absence of water, the party had to depend on mudholes. One tramper who has had experience of all the most important Dominion mountains considers it was the hardest trip ever accomplished. All parties are expected out today.