WILD PIGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1926, Page 4

WILD PIGS.

SERIOUS DEPREDATIONS

AUCKLAND. September 14

Hardships akin to those that tested the mettle of New Zealand’s pioneers are the daily portion of the settlers of To Tuhi. a sheep raising district on the Wanganui River, and according to a recent visitor the depredations of wild pigs threaten to intensify the plight of runhoklers. Some time ago it was announced Hint to help in eradicating wild pigs hunters were offered a shilling a snout. “ I do not think it will prove very cucctive.” remarked U:c informant, f v. .-nlil want £5 a snout before cen-sidi-iring it a payable proposition to hunt the marauders.” The great difficulty in slalkjn ■- pigs was the fact that they prowled bv nig 't and slunk at dawn into thick and almost impenetrable jungle. The an":' s'a'-- of the country made the reining of .sleep for breeding purposes out of the question. Under normal conditions the settlers depended mainly cn the sale of weal, ior widen the market was poor, thus constituting an additional Mirdship, but the pressure of the pigs was the chief handicap. “h is like one of the seven plagues,” tlie visitor said. “The boars not only destroy the sheep, hut also distribute in their routings hosts ol seeds from u!:e dreaded utnwai, which simply

cliches Cue grc-wlii of pastures. The nigs have made away with scores of lambs. The seriousness of this will he realised from the experience of one settler, who .awoke one morning to fin:l tha l out of twenty-eight lambs Qio bad only two left.”

.Most of tl-i.i settlers were in straitened circumstances, and the education of the children was consequently gravely handicapped. There woi-e. two alternatives. Either the children Iliad to lie sent to boarding schools ill Wanganui, which were often beyond the means of the parents, or a family of two I - four could engage a governess, whose salary was subsidised by

the Government to C'e extent of £ls a year. “ lint in spite of all their difficulties it would i e Imrd to find a

hotter love of people.” the visitor added. “ Troubled To Tuhi breathes the true pioneer spirit, and women are as courageous as tlie men. The Gnvornmenl could not liihl a more deserving case tor encouragement and assistance.”