LOST IN THE BUSH

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 28, 1 August 1929, Page 8

LOST IN THE BUSH

PIG HUNTERS' EXPERIENCE

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day To be hopelessly lost in a desolate" unpopulated country, drenched to the skin and without food, was the plight o£ a party of pig hunters, consisting of Messrs. Stewart List, L. Carpenter Lindsay Hall, and Donald Lee. Leaving Pongakawa at 4.30 a.m. on Sunday, the party went into Grown property in the upper reaches of the Otoromarakau Valley, between Lake Eoteohu and Matata. After a four hours' journey through trackless country, thov came across some wild pigs. A lone chase Jed them into desolate country thickly overgrown with fern and undergrowth. Several pigs were secured with the assistance of the dogs. . Turning homeward, the party, upon mountin X a ndge, were alarmed on discovering that they had lost their bearings. For four hours they made their way with gains nfles, and dogs to the Otoromarakau btroam, crawling and climbing through the roughest of rough country over razorbacks and precipices. Finally the river was reached. Then came the trying ordeal of travelling along the bed of the stream, frequently sinking kneedeep and sometimes waist-deep in icy cold water. Many stops had to be made since one of the party was subject to cramp. Unable to leave the stream on account of .high precipitous cliffs, the weary men made slow progress, dome only two miles in four hours. After being bushed 'for 15' hours till 12 o'clock on Sunday night, the party located a Maori whare. Upon reaching their camp two of'the hunters collapsed from exposure and exhaustion, but. wero revived with brandy and a fire. Te Puke' was reached at 7 o'clock next morning. The party on several occasions gave up hope of reVehing civilisation.