INTO THE HINTERLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 8 January 1913, Page 5

INTO THE HINTERLAND.

“TREKKING.”

The following Scouts—C. Sharrock, D. Overbye, K. Grant, M. James, W. Robson, W. Kivell, N. Kivell, C. Campbell, and R. Hunter—under the leadership of the Rev. W. A. Butler (Scoutmaster) left Stratford yesterday on an extended “trek” into the backblocks.

A “trek” cart, showing considerable! ingenuity in design and construction (the work of the Scoutmaster), and packed with everything likely to make for the comfort of the party en route, was with the party, the boys taking turns with the “traces,” and in addition each scout carried a small “swag” as well as the indispensable staff. A stait was made from the Parish Hall about 2 p.m., and the cortege was quite an imposing one, as it start-; ed on long march down Regan Street, and a surprise is certainly in store for some of the hack-blockers,! when they see the party rounding one I of the turns on, say, the Mold Saddle, and “a Japanese invasion” will probably be the first thought to arise, j It was intended to march to Toko, and travel thence by rail to Pohokira, where the first night was to be spent ( in camp on Mr. J. Robson’s sawmill. 1 From there the probable line of march will be through the Tangarakau Gorge to the Mokau River, whence, after some days spent in sight-seeing and exploration, the party will return by the Gorge to the Mangapapa, and leaving the Ohura Road at that point, climb the intervening ridge and de-j scend into the head waters of the Tongaporutu River, returning I y wav of Kotare, Okau, Uruti, and Waitara. Given fine weather, the outing should prove a most enjoyable one, and the boys should emerge from the wilds after their three weeks’ tramp, in the pink of condition, as well as having added considerably to their store of knowledge regarding Taranaki’s “hinterland.” Great credit is due to Rev. Butler for the undertaking, and also for the way in which, quietly and unostentatiously, he devotes so much of his time to amuse and instruct the local Scouts.