HUNTING BIG GAME.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1921, Page 10

HUNTING BIG GAME.

- ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. t An unusually large audience gathered the Leys Institute Hall last week, i to hear Mr. H. H. Ostler’s account of the ; te game hunting expedition which he Md Mr. F. E. Mackenzie, of Auckland, j made in Central Africa some time ago. la graphic style Mr. Ostler recounted the incident l ?, many of them highly exfcjting of the hunting. The story being |pMfeetaated with general descriptions of the country and lively yarn* by the The hunters were most fortunate in securing five elephants, but both had aoflne hair-raising adventures. On one occasion a mob of 12 elephants chased Mr. Mackenzie and his “boy,” for two Md a-ha If miles down a straight strip (of hard ground running through a swamp. and the New Zealander was actual!v collapsing when the attendant pulled him to safety. Mr. Mackenzie, it aeems. had a gift for getting into trouble. On another occasion, after dropping a buffalo, the rest of the herd charged him. and, standing his ground, he killed two more, the second falling at | his feet. There were no trees of size in | which to take cover and a firm nerve ( and a straight eye saved his life. This ] hufiter also fell foul of dangerous i snakes. Mr. Ostler’s chief adventure was with an elephant on which he suddenly | came among scrub. At a distance of i

rille, and twice it misfired. The "clicks” aroused the animal, which rushed him. The “boy” had the presence of mind to thrust a second rifle, a lighter one. into his hands, and Mr. Ostler fired point-blank at the great bulk almost above him. The shots made the beast go back on its haunches, and Mr. Ostler jumped aside from under a great “baggy” mouth. The wounded beast then set off in the opposite direction, and was never overtaken.