A PONY OUTLAW

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 97, 5 February 1936, Page 6

A PONY OUTLAW

HERMIT OF THE MOUNTAINS. GAVE NAME TO PONY’S KNOB. HAS RUN WILD FOR 15 YEARS. Though the name of Pony’s Knob a small peak lying between Mount Somers and the Winterslow Range, is known to many people, few know bow it came by its name. The story is an interesting one. About 15 years ago a pony that was one of several belonging to a farmer in the Winter slow district took to one bush. Just why it should suddenly have turned outlaw and sought the wild places, with their uncertainty n food and slit Iter, cannot be known, but the animal headed for the hills and there if is to this day. The ranges thereabouts are well covered with bush, affording ample slicltei for the ar-.n.al, which is known to prefer the peak that has been given the name of Pony’s Knob. This eminence has a fairly good clearing at the top, and from 'it a remarkable panorama of the Canterbury Plains may he obtained on a clear day. Several expeditions to the peak have been made by residents of the foothills areas in the hope of catching a glimpse of the hermit, but very little has been seen of it, especially in the last few years. It was thought in some quarters that the animal had perished, but there is direct evidence that the animal was alive so late as last Friday. Members of the Ashburton Tramping Club have also made several trips to the locality in an endeavour to obtain a photograph of the outlaw, but success has not come their way, nor has he been seen by them. In conversation with Mr A. A. Oliver, of Ashburton, who has gone to Pony’s Knob on a number of occasions to view the horse, Mr R. Hill (manager of the Winterslow Station) said he had seen the animal last Friday as he was on his way back through Surveyor’s Track after mustering sheep. With the aid of a telescope, Mr Hill had obtained an excellent view of the pony as it stood majestically in the mountain clearing. It had a long mane and a good coat and appeared to be as sound as a barrel. Mr Hill also stated his opinion that if the pony ever came into captivity again, a thing that is not at all likely now owing to its wild state, it would soon break its heart. A further expedition with the object of getting close to the pony is being planned.