LIVE ON 2s 6d A WEEK

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1932, Page 6

LIVE ON 2s 6d A WEEK

TWO YOUTHFUL 'PROSPECTORS. ORE&T HARDSHIPS ENDURED. NELSON, February 22. Life on 2s 6d a week is not a prospect that would allure many, but that is exactly what two youths, whom a party of itrampers came across in rue mountainous ' regions of Nelson, are existing on. In fact, they are wresting a. living from what must he the loneliest and most deserted part of New Zealand. “We were eating our evening meal in a piece of hush many miles worn the nearest village,” said one of the trumpet's in an interview, “when there walked into our little camp two figures that looked more than anything like the bushrangers that- once infested this part of the country. They both' had long black beards and their clothes were in tatters, and they told us that they had seen no other human being for several weeks. | LOST THEIR JOBS. 1 j “It appears that they were both in positions in the city, but the depression forced them out of jobs, and they decided that, rather than loaf about the city, they would set out for the wilds in the hope of finding enough gold to keep them going. I take off my hat to them as two of the pluckiest young chaps I have ever come across, and they are a wonderful example to the thousands of fellows, who are * hanging about our cities to-day;

“The have staked a small claim in the heart of the wildest and grimmest mountains you could find anywhere, and while they told us that their claim was not exactly an Eldorado it- yielded a. few shillings a I week—enough, with hard work, to supply their frugal wants.” j Every six weeks these two hoys walk to Takaka, the nearest village, for j supplies. It takes them three days’ ■ solid marching over very steep hush j and mountain country, and often ■ enough riveris have to he waded. They j buy about 15s worth of food—2s 6d worth for each week they will he hack in the wilds—and they do fhe three day’s trek hack to their claim in the mountain -with 7011). packs on their hacks.

; The first week of their return is spent in killing a supply of meat, mostly venison, which they treat in two ways by drying or by smoking and salting. When treated by tne latter method it is an excellent substitute for bacon, while the fat from the deer is used instead or butter. Luxuries like jam .‘.are-dispensed witli, and oply/y the necessities are packed ' up'' fi'om ' Takaka—flour, rice, suo-ar, hariev, oatmeal and tea. V'* *‘T* «

i extensive meat menu. i However, the menu, at least so far as meat is concerned, is fairly extensive. Giiat cfle-sb. js. .eaten, and eels i are a popular portion of their fare. ! The oil from the eels has excellent lubricating and water-proofiing qualities and is used on their boots—a most important precaution on this kind of country. Trout are to be had by various means, especially in the i large , lake formed by earthquake slips in the Karamea Valley.

“Gaming laws are .not greatly respected by ibe prospector in this part of the world,” said the Hamper, and he considers, quite rightly, that lie is entitled to all lie can get from the comfortless mountains. Anyway, the average angler would never want to endure the hardships that a trip into this part of the country ■ would entail.

Chicken there is none, but Hie less Said about the kakas, wekas and bush pigeons the better. But these chaps are thoroughly entitled to all they can get. They spend at least 10 months of the year in this desolate country, and in the winter the climate is particularly severe, with .heavy rain and snow and biting winds. “These men may be unemployed in the true sense of the word, but they are a splendid type of young man and they are lightening their country’s burden by making some attempt, to maintain themselves. a pity that a lot of other young fellows haven't the ‘go’ in them to do the same.”