PIG HUNTERS’ ORDEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1929, Page 7

PIG HUNTERS’ ORDEAL

LOST IN DESOLATE COUNTRY. AUCKLAND, July 31. To be hopelessly lost in.desolate unpopulated country, drenched to the skin, and without ifobd was the plight of a party of big hunters consisting of Stewart List, L. Carpenter, Lindsay -..11, and Donald Lee. Ponakaka at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday morning the party went into Crown property in the upper reaches of the Otoroinarakau Valley, between Lake Itoteolm and Matata. After a four hours’ tramp through trackless country they came across wild pigs. A wild chase led them into desolate country thickly overgrown with ferns and undergrowth. Several pigs were secured with the assistance of the dogs.

Turning homeward the party, upon mounting a ridge, were alarmed son discovering that they had lost their bearings. For four hours they made their way with their game, rifles, and (logs to the Otoromarakau stream Crawling and climbing through the roughest of rough country over razorbacks and precipices. Finally the river was reached. Then came the trying ordeal of travelling along the bed of the stream, frequently sinking knee-deep and sometimes, waist-deep n icy cold water. Many stops had to be made since oiie of the party was subject to cramp. Unable to leave the stream on aqcount of high precipitous cliffs the weary men made slow progress doing only two miles in four hours.

After being bushed for 15 hours till 12 o’clock on Sunday night, the party located a Maori w ,i " w ' Upon reaching 1 heir camp two of the hunters colkipsed from exposure and exhaustion but were revived with brandy before a 'ire. Te Puke was reached at 7 o’clock next morning. The party on several occasions gave up hope of reaching civilisation.