OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1926, Page 4

OKURU NEWS.

(From a Correspondent). STALKING SEASON. ! OKURU, April 9. ' Air Deans’ party left the Landsborough yesterday for Ainkaroa. Four parties left on Tuesday, Messrs Black, Hills. Steffan and Hnnter-Woston’s parties. This completes the season in Westland. Only a few good heads were secured this season, but considerably less time was pill into the sport compared with previous years. The weather has l*eeu favourable throughout. Air R. Wilson secured one very fine head in the vicinity of the Upper Burke and Okiiru rivers. A dozen or more stalkers camps are to he seen in tlie Upper Afakarora Valley. Hero the season commences a month later. .MESSRS BLACK AND WILSON’S TRIP. This party left Alakarora on the 2,‘Jrd ol Al.ireli. arriving at Okuru on the 25th. The following day they commenced their journey inland with three heavy laden paekliorsos and four hacks. The first night was spent at Harris Bros, hut hut here sleep was impossible owing to swarms of mosquitoes. The loiirlh day of travel was commenced early the following morning, a day our Otago friends will never forget.. I he track was in. bad order, being used only by the run-holders for stock. The route was houldery and stonoy and in [daces the pack-horses had to force their way tl)rough narrow cuttings of (lay and wallowing through clay mire and slltv creeks, up and down steep banks and over fallen trees. The packs and saddlery suffered heavily, and several hold-ups were experienced by slips and fallen trees. Perhaps the most unfortunate stoppage was at a piare u here the peek horses tell the l reek and swam into a still, deep bnuldcv-houud pool tor lot) yards with ihe resuli that practically the whole outfit, including food and blankets was saturated with water. One horse appeared to the onlookers to resemble a submarine, one moment going out ol sight and the next coming to (lie surI'acc spouting forth a stream of water I'min ils nostrils. When ibis horse landed on hard ground it. was exhausted and would have soon drowned. This accident was soon followed by another. A packiioi'se of the team fell over tin' side of the bank, falling in such a position that it was impossible to get him up, so tin* only course was adopted of pushing him further down the bank bead over heels into a shallow pool laneli to il’o amusement of tbe onlook-

ers. The horse was repacked and the journey was again faced. From this point, the whole party commenced to penertnto new country. No further accidents other than minor ones occurred that day and the party eventually arrived at their base camp site near the junction of the Ngataii River, probably tbe furthest paekhorscs have previously penetrated. The II y camp was packed next day and I lie party proceeded up the Okuru brunch as far as Prince’s Greek up which they followed, event mil ly mount itig AI Heller's Pass at 1 ..'2slsft. They then climbed Mount Alodeon and .Mount Action in tin* vicinity of which one royal was seen. An excellent view was seen from this I’eight (approximately •I.OOOft.j of the Burke Valley, also the I blast and Laiidsboi'otigli Rivers and (lap Greek. A stone could bate been thrown down lo till* valley below from tin- rugged perpendicular country. Some gum! tbits were In lie seen in the regions ol |he I'pper Burke Valley. There was also seen a bell <T ire*'.- of an uncommon species at all altitude of aboil! 3,1)09 bet lo 3.."5!!1 feel. * ne-e trees for the most part measured two foot al the bull in diameter and appeared Lo lie a bard wood, in appcarum-c similar to a tolara or b. 'woen a Loinra and jiisibia b.nk. The upper non ion oi i In- ire'* re.-ombleb a cabbage tree lar, with a larger luim.ber of heads and a courser I aif, ;n appearance more like the kiekie ior ki-l-ri"> or native banana. No member of tile pariv bad previously seen or bead of any mu h live. It is believed a. tree of this nature is to he seen in the Nelson Gardens. The party left the base camp for Okuru on tin* ,'srd. remaining at Okuru, following fishing before nroi ceding on

their return journey over the Pass. Air Wilson predicts a great future to this country and intends to again return at a later date. Air Wilson who is a M’oll-knoM'n Southland grazier considers this first-class cattle country, and was surprised at the healthy andl forward stock. Air Wilson is of opiu-j ion this country is highly suitable for opossums and that pressure should he brought to bear against any opposition to their liberation here. lie is per 7 feetly sure they do absolutely no dam- 1 age to our forests and an enormous amount of revenue Mould be eventually obtained from then’., inducing trappers i.i large numbers. There has been for some years an increasing decrease in Ihe output of furs from the fur and skin producing countries almost ensuring a sound market for opossum skins in the future.

Air J. Buckley, a. resident of Otago and an aiilhoritv on deer and game, who was also with Air Black’s party, predicts a motor road connecting Otago and Alaliitalii or Waiho within ten years and that it will be visited by tourists from far and u'ide. He is certain there is no better tourist route offering Midi a splendid variety of scenic attractions in any part of the Dom.'riion and its importance in linking up M-cst and east is in itself sufficient to move ibe Government to commence the project. GENERAL. Afakarora farmers are busily engaged getting in their harvest, which is about six Meeks later than previous seasons and which is lieliind other dis-1 t riels in usual seasons. Oat crops are still standing at Okuru. Next season’s oat crops are being sown on several farms. Afr John (‘rnn junr. is home for n ! short stay. Miss Cron leaves homo shortly for a distant destination.