LIFE IN THE BACK-BLOCKS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 600, 31 August 1909, Page 3

LIFE IN THE BACK-BLOCKS.

TYPICAL INCIDENTS. • TelocrapD.—Special. Correspondent.* Auckland, August 30. Here are two' instances of what befalls, those whom the exigencies of duty lead into the back-blocks 'of North Auckland.. Last winter a -settler essayed to negqtiato on horseback 'the .road, route from Dargavillo .to Mangakahia.' As .a result he . got bogged, 4hd all:.efforts.to-extric'at'e the horse failed. The next ;mo'rniiig 'he 'rcturned.'.with 'assist-'' ahce,' but found that the animal ih'ad died during the night; Despite tho pulling-power of two stroiig .horses,''..the party were, unablo: to haul the carcass out of the bog, owing to the suction-power) which :held: the legs of the dead . steed. . As a' last resource ■it.'was deemed advisable to' sever, the body, from the legs, and haul ■ it. on the roadside for cremation. . Present-day. travellers may' now. view four, bleached bones; sticking out of the quagmire like "gravestones, marking . the. spot "of; a fatality,, and giving' warning of that danger which is .iminent- throughout the area covered.by the.miscalled.main road. Last'winter, also, a stout-hearted' settler, who had been successful' in; a Crowii landsballot, was conveying to his' distant, bush.; section a load of grass seed. The vehicle withstood tho intolerable jolting,. but ultimately one wheel sank . into a bog rut, and tho jaded horses were unable .to stir it. Extra: horses were., in ;-time. obtained, but no purchase! could be secured :by which their strength' could avail.. The settler was :in despair, but the kindly elements • camo to his aid. Heavy irain fell,, a fresh eventuated, and in 24 hours the flood waters surrounded the dray. Fortunately the bags of grass seed were firmly lashed, and; this saved tho situation, for they served as a float, and - the pioneer had tho subsequent ,'happiness of Boating his dray and load on. to .his homestead.- .' •