RESOURCEFUL BOYS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1927, Page 1

RESOURCEFUL BOYS

IN AUSTRALIAN BUSH. SYDNEY, .Jan. 27. The Australian hush has bred many resourceful hoys in the past, and* that the spread of modern settlement and inventions has in no way lessened their calibre bias been proved on two recent occasions. Up near Rockhampton in Queensland there has just come to light a ease in which a 12-year-okl boy left his home, and for over a month lived alone in a hush hut. content with a dog for a companion. The boy, James Kenneth Gregg, lived with his stepfather. When his mother died about 18 months ago, the lad found solace and company in the hush, and soon became well versed in bush' craft. Occasionally he would disappear for a fortnight, and everyone knew that ho was alright. He never attended school, and lived on stewed and baked wallaby and iguanas. On December 3rd. James left home, and after more than the usual period of his absences had passed, his stepfather became anxious, and the scrub was thoroughly combed by search parties, which failed to find trace of the boy. Apparently on one occasion tho boy returned to his home, while his stepfather was visiting a neighbour, for, on the latter’s return, provisions were missing from the house. The help of tho police were enlisted, hut search parties organised by them failed to find tho lad.

At the end of last week a party of 18 residents was formed, determined to find the little bush lover. It seemed that tlio task must end in failure, until suddenly a dog appeared, and it led the party to a hut on Hie fringe of some scrub. Hero little Jimmy was found, not a whit the worse for his long absence from home. The hut was only two miles from his stepfather’s house—evidence of how well the hoy had covered liis tracks. Ho showed no inclination to go hack, declaring that the “bush would do him :any day.” But his stepfather insisted, and ho was brought home, the stepfather taking steps to ensure that his future welfare and education were cared for. Over 20 inches of rain Rad fallen during the period of the hoy’s absence from home, and this certainly did not add to the pleasantness of Jimmv’s outdoor life. lost boy chased by camels. The second example of resourceful and plucky Australian hush l>oyliood comes from Mount Nor -AAcst station, near Farina, in the northern part of South Australia. A 10-year-old boy. Harold Moran, was missed from the station on Friday. Parties searched for him throughout tlio week-end without success. On Monday he was found about 15 miles away from the station homestead. A man who was about to saddle .a horse to join in file search, saw Harold running towards liim, crying. “I’m lost. Fin lost!” During liis wanderings, young Moran had shown extraordinary eomilionseiise and courage. AVhen he realised that he was lost, he made for .and kept along the fences. During the three days he was “bushed” lie had only brackish water to drink, hut before lie found it ho suffered severely from thirst. Hunger ho allayed bv eating saltbush. At n'rnlit the slept under trees and by day struggled on in the despairing hope of finding his way home again. His most dangerous experience was when lie was chased bv a mob of wild camels. Many of these animals, formerly used in the transport of wool from the outback stations in the dry interior, have lieen replaced l>y motor lorries, (and many of them have been allowed to go back to the Imsll. In several districts they have bred rapidly, and it was one such mob that young Moran encountered. He escaped by just reaching a fence before them, and crawling under it. A few hours after he was found the boy was little the worse for his unenviable experience.