APPROACHING OUR GOAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

APPROACHING OUR GOAL

After another strenuous day we managed to get near our goal. The sun was setting and there was a trickle of water so we decided to camp where we were. Mundy made the fire. Jackie cut off a slice of birch bark and made a shoot for the water to run into the billy. I was supposed to be an invalid. I was feeling my body all over to see if I had any bruises. 1 happened to feel my trouser pocket. 1 missed my compass. On feeling for it 1 noticed that my pocket knife was also absent. I presume that when 1 fell both shot out. When I told Jackie he said: "I don't think much of that machine of yours. Yesterday it. told us to go in a very rough place, then today it loses itself." We did not have a very good night. 1 was a bit sore and my mates cotdd not get any moss for bedding. In the morning 1 found we just had enough bacon for breakfast, one large scone for breakfast and lunch and a Maori scone to carry over and a little rice, and enough tea and sugar for two days. Our salt, pepper and shallots were not I touched. Also, I had, known Io myself only, a flask of Old Scotch. 1 wondered if a wee drop would ease my hurts. I did not take it but as I warmed to my task up the ridge I was fit again. There, straight in front of us was a mountain. I asked Jackie what was the name of the mountain from which seven rivers start. He said that it was Hanga Ohio Tangata (now called Arete). It took us a while to get there, as there was no track in those days. When we arrived, we sat down and had a good gaze. Looking north over Dundas we saw a band of clouds approaching. Jackie said: "See. I told you that we could not find the lake, look at the kohu (fog) coming.” Regretting the shortage of our food supply. Jackie gave a long look to the west and said: "I fee] Hapua Korari is over there somewhere." So we skirted for Girdlestone. When drifting clouds passed us, I said: "1 don’t like the look of this, as 1 have no compass.” We had gone a good way when the fog got thick, so I thought we hud belter go down to the Waingawa as we could get shelter there and perhaps a bird. Those clouds passed and vve saw a good spur going to the river in the right direction. We made this and after about an hour's travelling we were below the clouds in tine weather.