BY MOTOR-DUGOUT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 7

BY MOTOR-DUGOUT

FROM TAUMARUNUI TO WANGANUI

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY

(By "F.W.V.")

World travellers tell us that the Wanganui --River offers of its kind some of the finest scenery that is to be found anywhere. Add to the beauty of the scenery the spice of adventure and romance, congenial companionship, and good weather, and you have the ingredients of a perfect outing. So at any rate do 22 members of the Tararua Tramping Club view their holiday this past Easter.

The party/journeyed' to Taumarunui, which is very near the source of the river, arriving there on Good Friday morning, and after a substantial breakfast, packed their food and equipment to the river, loaded up their canoe, and started their journey of.nearly 150 miles. The canoe has.quite.a little history, and in its time lias witnessed many changes and seen much. It must have been a mighty totara, felled doubtless with the. proper incantations and apologies to the forest gods, and launched by its sa"^f.ge possessors with due ceremony; and if its history could be written by a master it certainly would provide a most interesting story. In late years this veteran of many a naval encounter, which has hehjed carry many a war party, has been modernised, its sides being built up, and^ an up-to-date motor installed, so that instead of brawny arms and dipping paddles, benzine "provides . the motive power. , Almost from the jump we shot down a fast rapid, and it must be confessed that the more timid of our party felt uneasy. A few similar- thrills safely overcome gave confidence not only in our craft but in the three experts who controlled her. These three men, either native or possessing native blood, were undoubtedly able, knowing every inch of what they call the track, and every trick necessary in fast water for safety. Although the river was very low and our craft heavily loaded with' 25 humans and about half a ton of provisions and equipment, the canoe only got really stuck on three occasions. Twice some of the party had to step out in the water and help the polers in the canoe to move her along. Now and again when travelling at full-speed in some of the more violent rapids we shipped a little water, but nothing much, only enough to cause merriment at the expense of the person into whose lap it had fallen. A DESECRATED SPOT. Our first stop was at Otanui for lunch, and as the day was particularly warm our ladies went in for a swim while the billy was being brought to the boil. Soon after leaving this spot we came upon a fair area where the bush on the river banks had been felled and burnt— an absolute desecration. Whether the Government or the Eiver Board, their ears ought to have tingied at our observations on their shortsightedness and culpability. One could have forgiven them if the land was valuable for agricultural or even pastoral purposes.

We called at the House Boat, visited the Olrara Falls, and lingered over many of the outstanding spots, then came ashore at Tawata, where we pitched camp for the night. Ferns grew plentifully, so whilst Bobby, our cook, saw to dinner, others made comfortable bunks, gathered firewood,' and put things right for a good night's rest. Some of our explorers discovered apple trees laden with good fruit, from which they took toll. After dinner our cook led the party in a short community sing. Eight o'clock saw us all in bed, and we slept well. Bobby, who had contributed so much to our gaiety and who was proving so capable a cook, woke up next morning with strong evidence tHat lie was also a favourite of the mosquitoes. Breakfast over, tents struck, and everything packed up, we- started off again. The sun was very subdued, and' a fine drizzle of rain fell. We were divided in opinion as to whether the scenery would be more beautiful in sunshining conditions. The general opinion was that in all probability •it would not be. At any rate that showed that we are philosophical. The scenery hereabout was particularly fine, and it. is to be hoped that the public will gibbet any river board or Government that attempts to despoil it. We saw numbers of wild ducks and pigs, and it would have been quite a simple matter to have shot them.

We stopped for lunch at Kirikiriroa, the site of a famous old pa, of which little evidence remains other than a grove of poplars and fruit trees.: We found a further supply of good apples, lemons, and cape gooseberries, to which we helped ourselves very freely. The large flat on which the pa stood is overgrown with a 'very healthy crop of bracken—"pig-> fern"—and there were ample signs that Mr. Poaka roamed freely and in good numbers hereabout. Be-' fore lunch, practically all hands went in for a swim, and our "Aussie" crack showed that he could shift through the water at a good pace.