A LONG TREK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5299, 13 July 1928, Page 2

A LONG TREK.

JOURNEY OF 709 MILES.

GISBORNE DROVER’S FEAT.

In these days of fast travel a journey of 700 miles on horseback is considered: no mean performance, but when this: is credited, to one who is approaching the allotted' span of three score years and ten is a feat worthy of more than parsing mention. A pioneer drover of Poverty Bay has just concluded a trip that occupied more three months, and took him over 700 miles, . chiefly very spal’sely populated country. This drover, is a man of 64 years of age, anti he. is justly proud of having done the whole of the journey on horseback, using only' the one maj’e, “and without a puncture,” he added with a smile when talking to a. reporter. 'He. left Gisborne on March 14 with 100 head of cattle for. the Government farm near Tokaanu, at the southern end of Lake Taupo. He delivered them in good condition after a trek of 34 days, averaging about 10 •miles a day.

“Oh, 1 had a good trip,” he replied in response to an inquiry. “I struck a lot of rain on the way there, but I had good weather on the journey back.” The drover added that he travelled alone with the mob of cattle, and was able; to take aii.is own time, but his, average of ten mile's, a day indicates that he did. not waste a great deal of time on the journey. He speaks highly of the grejat hospitality shown him on the trip.

Leaving Gisborne, he first went south to Hawke’s Bay, and struck north throifgh Te Pohue. Crossing the Upper Mohaka River, he went westward into the Waiponga Valley, where there is a great deal of steep country. He then proceeded across the hills .into the Runganga Valley on the edge of the Kaiangaroa Plains, and thence on to Ha'utu, Tokaanu, where the Government farm is, situated.

On his return journey the. drov.eT took a different route, branching off at Taurdhga-Taupo, and joining the Taupo-Napier’ road near Rangitaiki. When he reached Wairoa on his way home he turned back and went to Central Hawkefs Bay. eventually returning- to Gisborne during the’ weekend.