Three Boys on the Road. NOT TO MENTION THE DOG.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 38, 11 February 1899, Page 1

Three Boys on the Road. NOT TO MENTION THE DOG.

A representative of our paper called on three Wainmte long distance walkeis, who lately put up a record for the journey round Hakateramea. On Jan. 18, they started out, in hjgh spjrjts, although the weather looked thieatening, They took with them a pack horse, and a " dawg " answering to the name of " King III." The horse was laden with a tent, blankets, and sundry aiticles pecessary for the outer and inner man! The limbs pt the athletes, therefore, weie free and untiammeled, and full speed ahead brought them to the njouth of the Waimate Gorge }n & little over an hour. Here it began to lain, and one of j;he party, not having an ovei coat, dragged out the tent to wrap round him. In doing so he dislodged a gun which was in the pack, canied foi the purpose of defence, and also of replenishing ijhe larder. The gun slipped down, stiuck the horse on, the shins and caused the, Bpmted animal to prance round. The gun and horge fought \t oat for a fe,w rounds^ when the former threw up the §ponge, and allowed its mangled remains tq be gently lifted. After this divaision, the athletes; continued, so did the rain. Onward through slush and mud they pressed, until they reached the Uppe,r Waihao, when they stopped, so did the ram. The sun shone brightly, and they decjded to continue, and, not satisfied with the wet on land, they had a bathe in the river. The water was yellow, and Dick dived intp two feet of water. Ha was much amused to find that there were rocks on the bottom, but thought it was no sort of day for bathing, and he had a head ache anyhow, and so got out and dressed. Shortly afterwards they made a fiesh start and after doing a couple of miles in 2hrs

15m jn. the rain followed suit. They pressed on, however, till Waihaorunga was reached, where Tom and Harry visited the cookshop and " cadged " a little food. About four miles fuither a halt was made for the night near a straw stack and a good bathing place. Next morning after a bathe and breakfast they started once moie and about 10 o'clock reached Haka Gorge. Halfway through a spell was called and a bathe was followed by dinner. Loafing along they were about a quarter of a mile from Hakataramea Creek when a very heavy thundei storm oame on. Into the tent they plunged, but the ram beat through in all diiections and after about an hour everything was packed up and a bolt made for a house which was in sight, crossing the areek on their way. This had risen about two feet m the hour and took them nearly to the waist. The building proved to be Wiight's store and a, spare room with a fireplace was placed at the disposal of the wanderers, who dried their clothes and gladly sought a well-earned last, Theiain had by this time stopped. Resuming at 6 a.m. a few miies were coveied and Dick and Harry went to a house and requested something to eat. They were well supplied, King minding the horse on the road. Onward, ever onward until Wain's was reached, and here a chance was given the thiee to justify their claim to the title of "athlete." Harvesters weie wanted and our friends were put on stooking. . The fiist half hour, like most beginners, they made the pace faiily warm, but this soon dropped into a steady plod. The day was exceedingly warm, and a large jug of oatmeal and water provided was soon diained. One of the trio had several drops of Scotch blood in his veins, and considering it a slight to his country to leave the meal unfinished, he ate about two pounds which remained in the bottom of the jug. Shortly afteiwards dinner was announced, and a substantial meal was done full justice to, " Scottie " was not feeling so fit after dinner, but although hardly able to stoop, he kept going at the sheaves, The woik was finished befoie tea, and after thu lueal another start was made on the road by the tno, who were exceedingly weaiy, but *icher by a£l note, Sandhurst was reached about 7 o'clock, the tent being pitched on the banks of the creek. It was a beautiful night, and when all was ready they had a bathe by moonlight. And if ever thiee boys slept soundly jt was that night, Ihey were up in the morning at 7, and after a bathe stiolled aoross the bridge to Kurow. After a good look round they came back and packed up and returned by the Hakateramea Valley. A thunderstorm made a halt necessary and the tent was pitched in the shelter shed of tht school. Some mattresses used under the horizontal bar in the grounds came in handy for sleeping on. Nest day was Sunday, and was kept as a. close holiday, the travel stained clothes having been washed the night before. They had a bathe in the morning, and in the afternoon delivered a letter of introduction to a friend jn the vicinity thus passing the day, Next morning an early start waa made, and about 9 Dick and Harry went into a house and got a good breakfast, bringing some oui to Tom, who helped King to mind the horse on the road. 4DOU*4 D0U * 10» a ° 00^ house was reached, and the cook being an acquaintance treated them very well. It was late in the afternoon when they started for Kurow, which they reached about 7, a,nd camped about a mile past, Nejft rnornjng a start was made, and Duntroon reached by djnner time. This meal co.nsiste4 of a quarter loaf of bread crumbled into a " billy " of boiljng milk and eaten with a fork. Rearing Georgetown, Tom and Harry asked for and were giveK a good meal, which they ate along the road. The tent was pitched at Georgetown, and next morning (Wednesday) a fresh start. wa.s made after breakfast, which consisted qf one slice of biead among the four, Instead o| tyqepinpr j;he high road the travellers, advised hy a rabbiter, took a road along tho banks of ths Waitaki and which was yery stony. A few miles of this made three footqore lads and a ditto dog thirst for the gore of the beforemenfioned rabbiter, but it was a case of " needs must " and on they went, reaching Qlenavy at 3. Harry was sent to buy bread and while he was away * man came along and offered the remaining two a job harvesting. Having eaten praotically nothing all day a,nd walking about 12 miles they did not feel fife and declined with thanks. After the loaf had been brought by Harry and eaten, and th« new* that the school did not go in for a week fca^

been receiyed, the trio kicked themselves hard that they had not closed with the oifer. A 'hhowei came on and a staitwaa made tor the Waikakahi station, that haven of lest foi the weaiy swaggei. A.ftev tea the Swaggei's Best was patronised. Theie they weie received as biotheia hv neven llca-hitten, wandering deadbeats already in possession. Our tiavelleis had a bunk ripiece and seictned a night's sleep, but befoie getting to sleep the thiee weie interiogated as to the length of then day's maich. The legular ''biead inspectois" veie shocked to hear they had come from Geoigetown. one old handiemaikmg that they weie blanky fools, as live mileg a day was enough for any man. The talk turned on Schilling and Caiter, the same old ainner leekoning he himself had "walked, rourad two bloomin' woilus m his time." These gently, as indeed all the people tilong the road, bould riot tindeistand wa'kmg for amusement, they stfemed to consider it a " senous aphan," and not to be nndeitaken lightly. Next morning " Simmy " looked after the -wants of the Waimate contingent, and sent them on their way rejoicing. Passing the homestead they decided to have a look round the beautiiul giounds before the estate was bioken up, and tins wfls no longer possible, the head gaidener showed them round, gave them the names of the various flowers, and treated them most kindly. These grounds well lepay a visit, and must have Cost thousands of pounds to bung them to the state in whuSh they now aie. Leaving here tbe trarelleis leached M'Culloch's bridge at dinnei time, and aftei a bathe stalled for home, leaching town in the afternoon, being away nine days, and having walked upwards of 150 miles. One fact might be of interest io those who lead about Schilling weaimg out 22 pans of boots in 8000 miles. The boots of the tiavel'ers weie very slightly Vrctin, although they weie not new when the jouiney was commenced. The lads themselves weie in the best of health. King 111, who is a small white dog, clipped to lesemble^ a hon, had added seveial pounds to his' weight, the result of feeding and petting bj ohildien along the loute. The thanks of the paity aie due to those who tieated them so kindly on the journey, a journey -which, although attended by bad weathai, was yet full of pleasuie, and well repaid the slight mconTeniences suffered.