IN WILD COUNTRY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 494, 30 March 1933, Page 6

IN WILD COUNTRY

UREWERA EXREDITION DEER STALKING TRIP BY PARTY OF ROTORUA SPORTSMEN \ ' , DANGEROUS COUNTRY . After nearly two weeks spent in the Urewera eountry, Colonel E. G. Fraser (Rotorua) and Messrs. N. L. Higginson and F. W. Anderson (Okoroire), returned to Rotorua yesterday morning following a deer stalking expedition in this unfrequented and • most interesting. area. From Ruatahuna the party, who were .accompanied by two Maori guides, went due south into the bush and down the Parahika, Totara, Waihau and Wairoa Rivers. The party, who were riding horses state that this section of the eountry proved most dang-, erous riding and the size of roots "■often necessitated the horses being led through the bush which Colonel "Fraser, who has made many such exipeditions, considers is the most difificult he has encountered. In the regions traversed by the rivers mentioned, evidence of heavy floods were seen and in one case a large birch tree had evidently been carried away by the flood waters and landed on the flat some distance away. The party penetrated about 15 miles into the bush where signs of many deer were seen, while they secured a fine speeimen 12-pointer and 10-pointer. A freak head of five points on one side and two on the other was also secured, and this the party also brought back as a speeimen of a malformed head Exciting Experience Stalking on his own, Mr. Higginson had an exciting experience with a wild bull which had been named' "the terror of the Urewera," and had been known to hold up cars and loriries in the district. Knowing the animal's dangerous proelivities Mr. Higginson first took the precaution of selecting a safe vantage point and from there attacked the beast. Four 'shots were required to drop the animal whose despatch is regarded as a distinct relief by all in the vicinity. During the trip, the party said that they saw many deer carcases of only six point heads which had evidently been wantonly slain by parties with little sporting instinct. Throughout the entire trip fine native flora and rich pastures were met with and much of the. course taken was along river beds which were covered with a canopy of foliage.