A DARING ANIMAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1923, Page 1

A DARING ANIMAL.

DKKR AT ( LOSE (H'AItTKITS. ASH IiCKTON. April 17. A von pretty tete-a-tete with a red deer stag was enjoyed a day or two ago by an Ashburton parly within a mile of the silo of the proposed hydroelectric dam near I'udding llill, on the broad, open shingle spaces of the Ashburton riverbed. The party included Air K. Watt, chairman of the Ashburton Power Hoard, Air W. If. Woods (borough i ouncilloh ). Mr I!. K. liurlou (manager ol the Ashburton Electric Supply C 0... .Mr Alt' Clark (dork of works at the site? and a couple of Air Phil Norman's staff, who have a working camp close by. The party were walking up the river-hod, and the conversation turned to deer and their proximity. It was stated that iliey could he heard “roaring" at night, and examination of sandy spots among the shingle revealed the spoor of several deer. Keen glances swept Pudding n ill and other grassy .slopes without reward, and then suddenly a large male red deer was seen leisurely crossing the river half a mile upstream, lie looked contemptuously down toward the approaching group and then continued on his way with the unconcern -•I a dairy heifer and kept a course down-stream close to the opposite bank. Tito water in the river was only about knee-deep, and the animal could cross easily. Tlis unconcern, however, appeared to ho merely camouflage, for after lying down for half a minute’s rest, he seemed to have regretted losing -iglit of the men. for he rose to his feet and came trotting upstream. Scenting sport, the party crouched behind a shingle hank. Closer came the magnificent beast till he arrived at a point opposite three of the party, who he had. as jt wore, outflanked. There he stood with his head erect, sniffing the air. and a tine opportunity was given to count bis points, which were reported to number nine. At lea.-t one of the group was seen to reach out surreptitiously for a piece of rock to hurl in self-defence in case the animal should charge, rumours of doer pranks of this kind being not unknown. Then, satisfied with the mutual inspection, the human side of the tableau stood up suddenly, and the deer trotted steadily hut without panic down-stream again. Later, the party found his wallowing-plnce quite near the site of the dam.