A ROUGH JOURNEY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 751, 25 April 1881, Page 2

A ROUGH JOURNEY.

A TRIP 10 THE SNOWY RANGES. (Concluded ) On Saturday morning another move was made, and again we had to take to the hills, going in a southerly direction. All that day wo were going upwards, and at one o'clock we found ourselves at the top of one spur, but in the distance were some more considerably higher. We found the trees covered in thick moss, and principally black birch; the ground was quite swampy, and finding some water we had a billy of tea and a biscuit. While' discussing this meal we saw a huge black rat, and wondered what it found up there to exist upon. From this we had a good view of the surrounding hills, and what we particularly noticed was a large tableland covered with birch extending for a great distance on our right and looking as if it had been clipped with a shears it was so even, the effect no doubt of the wind which must blow here in times with terrific force. After half-an-hour's spell, we again started, and as we went upwards the trees were getting shorter and shorter, until at last wo came to where we could look over them, a regular forest of stunted biroh. - The trunks of the trees were from a foot to eighteen inches through, and yet we could neither get underneath them, uor over the top. It was horrible travelling just here, and a religiously inclined person of the party had to express himself several times as disapproving of the language used on this occasion. After trying this for some timo we found it necessary to go back and around the edge of the bush. It was becoming a serious matter now what to do. The night was approaching, and we did not believe in going down hill again to camp, so at last we picked out the most sheltered place w« could find, and pitched tent for the night, intendiug to make a start again in the morning to get toßome more habitable region; but, as punishment for our sins in the black birch, or something, we were doomed to disappointment, for the rain came on in the night, and it rained all day on Sunday. To make things more comfortable the wood was wet and would not burn ; the larder as far as meat was concerned, was empty, and from the extreme cold we were compelled to remain in the tent all day; here dissatisfaotion shewed itself, and a few hot words wore exchanged regarding the management of affairs, but it passed off quietly enough, and I am glad to say it was the only time any unpleasantness existed duriug the trip. It certainly was a grand sight, and well worth seeing (if it was not so cold) the clouds rolling up one side of the hill and drifting down the other. Several times was regret expressed that there was no artist amongst us; he could have taken scenes not. to be surpassed. But on this day we were not In the hunior to go into ecstacjps- oyer anything, After a miserable day and night spent here, we started on Monday morning to try and get to the trig station on tho snowy range, which wo reached shortly after—thoroughly wet through, and almost frozen. Here the sun shone out, and the view made up for all we had gone through. We could see the whole of the Wairarapa Valley, from tho Lake to the Opaki, and with the morning sun shining on 1 it the sight was magnificent. We could distinguish the different townships quite easily, ' While here we saw a small lake, about 100 yards long 'by about 20 wide. The ground was quite swampy, There were also some beautiful flowering plants and evergreens, It would pay a floriculturist to visit this place to get rare plants. Some of the party brought a few with them, but having no proper mode of conveyance for such things, they were knocked about too much to'beof any use. But the most cheering sight sall to us, was the Tauherenikau river on bur right hand, and for that wo determined to steer, After a short search we found a surveyor's track, which would take us part of the way in which w'e wished tq'gq', and after an hour's smart travelling we. struck off .on another ridge to take us into the river, which we reached early in the afternoon. The first sight that greeted us on getting to the river was three large bulls, and a very welcome sight it was.' Captain and Snorer started down stream after them, and succeeded in bringing all three of them, down; but they could not find any younger cattle just then, so'we had to be satisfied with what we. could get. We pitched camp, skinned two of the bulls, and made a bed of the hides,

The Taulierenikau vjillpy js. altogether different from the it is more open, and the ranges are not nearly ao steep ; For a distance of Gye miles along the river banks there are large patches of IfcJ land, covered with light scrub, "here there is good feed for cattle, of which we saw several | as also, we did of sheeps and pissr-ihe place being literally alive with pigeons and the blue birds pre' Tiously mentioned. We determined to remain here for a couple of days, to recruit our strength'and see what was to be seen, this being the best camping ground we had yet had. Fishing was instituted, and some immense eels were caught, which were a change from bull-beef and birds. On Tuesday Captain, Snorer and Infant went prospecting, with the result, as stated by one of.them on, a previous occasion, sol will'refrain from speaking ionthis subject, although this river showed far better- indications of. the precious metal than the Waiohine, Cook and' Warbler.stopped in-camp, and succeeded in making some capital dampers (only one) of which had to be broken with apick ! ,Timberahin:;and-.liag8 I ,were ienti,to^B6t

some birds, and the land; they were told not tp shoot any cattle) as camp was to be s)ruck on the morrow. They took the carbine with them, ostensibly to protect themselves, but actually to get a shot, if possible, at some bigger game than; birds; the latter they abstained from shooting, in case cattle might be neaK -They -went,, down.stream about three mitoe lyhen they saw a beast in someßor'nb,, Rjg« went rouiid to get a/'' shot, but while there found it was a bull/' and, as they had had'enough of that, was - coming away. But he was hot to retire so easily, for Timbershin had startled the bull, which made for. Rags, who, there being no large timber near (Rags'is a good climber), and not caring to.have a closer acquaintance with the bull,%t'drivej but without more success,than frightening the bull away, .which was sufficient on- that' occasion., After- going a little 'further' down they sawa cow andheifor, acooriipariied'by a bull. The -said kept always about fire chains behind the' others, bo they werem'ot'within.shqqting distance... They followed for a good while, hoping to get as'shot, but the. first bull was- soon 'joined by a second; and' the other cattle being out of sight, and theA place between the river ahd the hillnarrow that they coutd not .pass very well,* • without attractingthebull'sattentionthey decided to have a shot at one of the bullß. Rags, having the carbine, was to : fire at the largest, while Timbershin watched the others. Rags fired at the bull's forehead, but only succeeded in hitting him in the eye'without, bringing him down. Again he fired, and hit him in the ribs; but the bull never moved, and it was thought that either shot would : kill him, but there lie stood, and while Rags was firing Timbershin Noticed that at every, discharge the other bull kept coming oloaer and closer, until they thought he was getting too familiar, and so they fired and hit him on the shoulder, but without injuring him much, for he left them with his head and tail m th'e'air.. alternately. By this time Rags had put 1 four bullet's into the' other bull, and yet \ he never'mdyed, although bleeding from ! four wounds.' Evidently Ragswaii a bad i' shot, and unfortunately they had no. more > ball cartridge with them, and yet j, remained. So Timbershin conceived the '. brilliant idea of blinding him in thVother :' eye with a charge of shot, which idea he } put into execution, nut not with the re- ; Bult anticipated. Having got close to the ) good eye of the bull he fired, and upon i the discharge the bull made for him, and j he made for a tree, as did Rags. So there : they were, looking at the bull and the j bull looking at them. After waiting for ! about half an hour, they got tired, and slippedfdown the bank of the river, leaving the bull to die, as thoy.thought, before morning. They then proceeded to i execute their commission, and shot 18"of the blue birds (name unknown) in nine shots, arrived in camp, and told us of their adventure. On Wednesday a consultation was held as to the best road home, which resulted in the river bed being selected; and we were getting home as fast as possible when Snorer, who was bringing up the rear, noticed a bull on the other bank of the river oomiug toward us with hostile intent, so he fired, andoff went the bull. We soon reached'the place where Rags and Timbershiu had the sport the day before, and lo ! there was the bull standing in the same place; Snorer who had an extra cartridge fired at him and he went about a hundred yards oh to the beach where a charge of shot from Snorer's gun blinded himcompletely. We now resolved to put the'brute out of pain, so he was literally haoked down with the tomahawk, first one would wy and then another, the bull beiugybo\h blind and weak from loss of blood, could not get away; he staggered, intp the river, where Timbershin at last succeeded in pithing him, and then he got upon him in the river to open him, but upon the first introduction of the blade, he lounged and threw his would-be butcher into the river. Shortly Captain " and Infant elected to go home straight from this point; they having business to attend to whioh could not be delayed; the rest of the party keeping down stream. Shortly after, they came upon two bulls roaring at each other across the river, am} wi) thought we were in time to see..a bull fight, and to assist matters to that end, we oommenced to roar too, but with very different results from what we expeetod, ! for the bull nearest to us came through the scrub towards us at a fearful rate, Then could be seen swags lying about in all directions, and all hands flying for the nearest trees with their hats in their hands, and presenting aludicious appearance in their earnestness to reach a place of safety. All were comfortably aettled"up a tree" when the bull came along' and looked tip at theni, he was very close and Snorer who did not see the foroe of being besieged, fjred a charge of sl\ot into ma; eyes. I may state that the bull was surprised, although he did not wait to make the remark, for he made a rather undignified retreat; and we had our revenge for our race lo the trees. We : reached the gorge early in the evening, ■ and pitched our tents; here we found some butter and, salt left by one of the party on a previous occasion, which was a welcome addition to our stores. We woqld like to have stopped here another day, but provisions were beooming shorji, so we struck camp on the morning of Thursday, and : directed our steps homeward. By this time some of. us presented a deplorable appearance,, the clothes we originally smarted "with were left miles behind, and some had serious thoughts of tying their blankets around them, Maori fashion. The corners out out of a jjoijr bag'w,as substituted, in one instance for a portion of dress, and presented a po'yej and picturesque appearance. 'As soon aj we started on Thursday' the rain commenced, and our «wags which had become light by this time, were soon heavier than ever. ..We started about seven o'olqck and from, that time until we reached at seven in the evening we were wet through. Nothing of consequence. h.ap--pened until we reached home where a, hearty welcome, and quiet fire-side, were the more appreciated from pur rough trip up the hills. I have not heard one of the party regret the journej, nor did th,ey once coraplain of the conduct of the Gqok. •