The Perils of Travelling in the New Zealand Bush.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1526, 9 April 1886, Page 2

The Perils of Travelling in the New Zealand Bush.

SAFE RETURN OF THE MISSING PARTY.

Public anxiety as to the fate of Mr Postmaster S. Dewar and his companion in arms, Mr Donald Keith, was at its height on Wednesday afternoon, w hen the Mountaineer steamer, coming from the Head of the Lake, was seen to hare her ensign and pennant joyful flying, and fired a salute as she entered Queenstown Bay. She had on board Constable Young (one of the search party) and Messrs Webb (an old Martin's Bs.y settler and a thorough bushman), Buteinent, Henderson (the two latter-named on their return from a trip to the West Coast, and last--but by no means least—Mr Dewar—his late mate, Donald Keith, having been left behind, in care of some of the search party, in consequence of being to ill and exhausted to be able to walk. As many surmised, the party never lost their way for any length of time, although the absence of signs of a track considerably retarded their progress. Another great drawback was the insufficiency of provisions at starting, and certain bad luck which further limited their supplies. Mr Dewar informs us that he was inclined to be averse to the proposal to retire at first, but for his anxiety on account of his wife, who expected his return within 15 or 16 days, and was waiting for him at a friend's house in Southland.

Too much praise cannot be given to all those concerned in the relief of the party. Firstly, Messrs Henderson and Butement, for giving up what was almost a necessity to themselves ; to Mr Webb, who, through ill himself, sunk all personal considerations in his eagerness to lead the first relief as quickly and straight as possible (which his intimate knowledge of the bush and locality enabled him to do); and also, Messrs Wilson, M'Kenzie and Rogers, for their untiring zeal ; also, Constable Young, for the cheerful and happy mauner in which he executed the severe and trying duty imposed upon him. It will be seen by a reference to dates that from the time the party left Kinloch until Messrs Heuderson and Butement reached them, was 29 days, viz, from 4th March till Ist April. Besides giving the simple narrative below, we had intended to have referred here to some very trying incidents which occurred during the eventful adventure of the party, did space permit. But we may, perhaps, be pardoned for remarking that if the comparatively momentary act of saving a man from drowning is considered deserving of public notice and reward, surely the long-continued courageous and self-denying conduct displayed by Mr Dewar on behalf of suffering humanity is deserving of signal recognition, and we trust that the present case will be brought under the notice of the Royal Humane Society. From a conversation with Mr Dewar wa glean the particulars below : Mr Dewar received six weeks'leave of absence on the Ist ultimo, and having a few days to spare, he took a fancy to seeing the West Coast—the idea originating from inquiries the Postal Department had been making for someone to take over an urgent mail to Martin's Bay. Mr Dewar happening to meet Donald Keith, and knowing him to be an old station hand, well accustomed to bush life, he asked him if he would go over there, and Donald said that it was just the place he wanted to visit if be could get a mate, as he had some business to do and also a friend he wanted to see over there. After making further inquiries as to Donald'* capabilities as a guide, Mr Dewar agreed to go, and volunteered to the Department to carry over the mail, which was lying at the Queenstown office. From enquiries made, Mr Dewar was informed that Donald was quite up to the character he received as having great knowledge of the ranges, and, as a friend who knows the country well, it was said that "Donald can lead you all over the country aud carry a load as big as a donkey, and tell yarns enough to keep a camp of ten men amused," all of which were eventually found to be true. They left Queenstown on the 4th ultimo for Kinloch, which they reached and left the same day, Donald trotting along with a 701b. swag, whilst Mr Dewar was bringing up the rear with a 40-pounder, floundering along as a newchum swagger, weighing close upon lost., would do on a hot summer's day just out of an office for a holiday, and feeling rather short in the wind. They experienced grand weather for the first four days and crossed the Lake Harris saddle, Donald going as straight as a dart without a mistake—making easy stages and enjoying the scenery and sport, game being plentiful, and getting a large supply both for present and future use. They eutered the bush on the other side of the range, where there appears to be a track for a short distance, but which utterly dies out the further the bush is penetrated. This seemed to confuse Donald at fir9t, and he kept a little too much to the south and towards the head of the Hollyford river, close alongside of which the track runs; but here the river makes a large outward bend (that is, towards the coast or west—the Earty being on the east side of the river), and by eeping towards the south they got a few miles too far up stream. Eventually, however, Donald struck the track and river where it makes another bend. There they got their next experience of a N.E. "buster" in the Hollyford Valley, with an uninterrupted deluge of rain, which continued, more or less, for ten days, making things "rather sloppy" for their first encounter with the bush. After it cleared up a bit they made tracks down stream, passing the futtah (?) and innumerable creeks in rapid succession, until brought up by Hidden Falls Creek, which was in flood and too high to ford. It may perhaps be as well to explain that the futtah is a sort of camping hut, six or seven feet square, and raised aliout five teet from the ground, so that in a moist bush couutry like this there is generally a dry spot below on which to light a fire. They, therefore, camped two days at Hidden Falls Creek, getting plenty of game and got across the river on the third day, camping again on the other side. There their real misfortunes commenced. The rain came down again in torrents, and, the weather being much warmer, brought down snow water from the ranges, which made all the creeks, both front and rear, impassable. At this time, whilst Donald was shooting at a kaka, the nipple was blown out of their only gin, rendering it useless, and—to make their misfortune gre>lter -whilst anxiously, but it proved vainly, searching for the nipple for more than an hour, one of the dogs got at the bread and "scoffed the pool," leaving them with only a few grounds of tea, a little sugar, about a pound of cheese, a tin of pepper, another of salt, and a good supply of matches. In this dilemma, with flooded creeks in rear debarriug retreat, there was nothing for it but to push ahead. Luckily the ground game was plentiful in this part of the valley, and, having three sheep dogs, plenty of Maori hens and kakapos were killed. Pyke's Creek was reached this day (the 17th), and it was resolved that Dewar should cross with the swags and see w hat the track was like on the other side, and what chance there was of obtaining ground game. This he did, and found the track good but no sign of ground game. He reported accordingly to Donald, who was not in favor of crossing and going ahead, but nrged that the best plan would be to take to the ranges, for the reasons that there were six creeks in front likely to be as high as those they had already crossed ; also, that they had Lake Mackerrow (13 miles long) to get across, and as there had been no arrangements made for auyone to bring a boat up from Jamestown, they might—unless by some wise interposition of Providence—light fires till doomsday before anyone would see the smoke. Besides, it was quite certain that no one had passed through the Hollyford Valley, except themselves, from the time that they had entered it up to that date (the 17th). and the weather being so bad, no one would leave the settlement until the weather cleared up. Relief could not, therefore, be looked for by going forward, but, once on the ranges, he (Donald) would be at home, and when he got a sight of some of the peaks he said he could get across either into the Rockburn or into the Kouteburn, or—as a last resource—they could at any time drop down again on to the track if they liked. In any case tney would be making their way back about the timber line, where the creek could be easily forded, which would be a much better plan than waiting for the creeks to go down before they could get along the tracks. This argument was very reasonable, and prevailed. So the ranges were ascended, and after ooa or two pretty stiff brushes to get through the

bush, everything went well and game was plentiful, although the climbing was very severe. However, Hidden Falls Creek was soon passed, and they Were getting back well when Donald commenced to complain of of his feet and legs and hands, which were badly cat with hanging on to the bushes and were swelling to an enormous extent. The weather M as, however, much better now, and they had a rest for a couple of day», thinking it would bring Donald all right, but instead of this he got gradually worse and suffered very much from cramp. His eyesight then failed and his mind appeared to be affected, as was also his speech, and he would ait for hours moodily brooding and would not look at his pipe, although Dewar often tried with it to get him to cheer up. His legs gave way, and he was loosing flesh rapidly, in fact a more complete wreck in such a short time could not be imagined. In this dilemma the only thing to be done was to get him off the range ou to the track below where assistance would reach, sooner or later. At this time Dewar thought they were about nine or teu miles in a "bee" line from the junction of the Greenstone and Lake Harris tracks, where the futtah was. A start was made at da} light the following morning, and by abort stages the futtah was reached in a few days, but not without great difficulty and labour, by the time the futtah was reached (Thursday, Ist inst.), Donald was in a partial stupor, and being wet to the skin, he was totally unable to help himself to get inside the futtah, which is built on piles about five feet high—and Dewar was too weak to lift him-so he was placed underneath it out of the wet, and until a fire could be lighted. The futtah was empty when they were at it before, but now on looking in, Dewar found a Godsend, in the form of a large "billy" of toast, and a phial of pills, which it appears had only been left there about six hours before, by Mr W. Webb, settler of Martin's Bay, on his way to Queenstown, and as a help on his return. Mr Webb had passed quite near them, either before they got off the range or close to them on the track. Mr Webb thiuks it would be on the track during Dewar's abseuce on a foraging espedition with the dogs. As Webb lost one of his own dogs at this part of the track, they would likely be aliont at that time, it having evidently got on to the scent of Dewar's dogs, and then, having lost its master, it went back to Lake Mackcrrow, where it was picked up and bronght ou by Messrs Henderson and Butement, students at tlie School of Mines, Dunedin. and who were returning from a trip to Martin's and Big Bays. A piece of the toast and a drink of hot water, with a little salt and a liberal supply of pepper, made Donald recover suliiciently to help himself a little, and with the aid of an extemporised ladder he was got inside the futtah without much difficulty. A good fire was kept up underneath which warmed him up and dried the blankets, so that he was now quite safe and comfortable, and in a narrow and oi*n position of the valley, where no one could possibly get past without seeing or being seen, and it would also give Dewar a lietter chance to forage for uauie. On the following morning Dewar started at daybreak along the track to reconnoitre and search for the blazes on trees leading to the Lake Harris track ; also, to put up notices to take any passers' attention, and to hunt for " tucker." After trudging along for about five hours in a downpour of rain, without any success, he decided to return to camp and hunt on the way back—which was bis usual method of procedure. As the dogs would not follow hiin. he fed them a certain distance away, and then slipped them, when they, of course, made back to Donald, with Dewar at their " tail," ready to dispute for a part of what was caught. In this case, ss uo spoils were obtainable, the return journey was made in a little over an hour. The rain still coming down, and nothing to cook, he turned into the fnttah to have a sleep, never expecting any one to be travelon such a wet day. About 4 p.m., however, Messrs Butement and Henderson arrived at the futtah, and ou learuiug the state of affairs they went to work like "bricks," and soon had a " billy" of porridge ready—a couple of pannikins of which put new life into Donald, with the addition of tea and Johnnie cakes wade by Mr Butement, whom Dewar avows to be the best cook this side of the line. Donald, although able to sit up and help himself a little, was agaiu very bad through the night and in great agony. A consultation was held the following morning (Saturday, 3rd inst.) between the three (Henderson, Butement and Dewar). and it was agreed that all the provisions (altont four days' tucker for two) would be left for Donald, whilst Henderson and Butement would pnßh on via Greenstone to get assistance from the Lake—dejiending on their guns for fowl, and to leave for the use of Dewar Webb's dog, picked up on road, and which they found to l>e a go>d carrying dog. The rain still continuing to fall, they could not possibly leave that day. So they started out hunting, and during tht ir absence the first relief party came in, viz., Mr S. W. Wilson and Mr Davy Rogers, accompanied by Mr Webb, whom they had met at Itouteburn hut, and who turned back with them. A general consultation was held ou Donald's condition, which demanded immediate relief, or fatal results must ensue. Mr Webb being the manufacturer of the pills he recommendtd them, and a dose was administered with excellent results, and next day Donald's health was very much improved, for he ate well, aud the nourishing diet was strengthening him every honr. Rogers was now put in charge. He bad already proved himself a thorough bushman, and uow turned out to be an excellent nurse, and displayed a considerable knowledge of the fine arts by euttin« out "ruralscenery" with his i>enknife, that threw the whole cauip into convulsions of laughter at the bewitching hour of 3 a.m. The trouble was now over. Help had arrived, and Donald was removed from the futtah to a tent, which was found more convenient. A good fire was established and plenty of " tucker" to lte had all round, but none to waste, and on the following day (Sunday, 4th inst.) the s cond relief party, namely, Constable Young and Mr M'Kenzie, postmaster of Martin's Bay, arrived via Greenstone. It was now decided that all unnecessary mouths should clear out the follow ing day, wet or shine, Wilson and Rogers beiug left in charge to look aftci Donald.

Messrs Webb, Henderson, Bntemcnt, Dewar and Constable Young, theiefore, started at 8 a.ui. on Monday, sth inst., via Lake Harris, nuder the able guidance of Mr Webb, but they had not gone far when rain again commenced, and by the time the saddle was reached a severe storm was raging, acco'moanied by heavy thunder and lightning, which continued till they reached Lake llaiTis hut, wet and tired. The following day being fine they made as far as the Ronteburn Station, whnre they received every kindness and care at the hands of the hospitable occupants, Mr and Mi's Cattanaeh. The follow ingday (Weduesday, 7tli) Kinloeh was reached in time to catch the Mooutaiueer, and finally Queenstown. . It was arranged that Capt. Wilson should remain with Donald, who now apj>eared quite satisfied and happy ; Davie Rogers in the meantime to go with Mr M 'Kenzie to Martin's Jiay (34 miles distant, viz, 21 to the Head of Lake M'Kerrow and 13 from Head to Martiu's Bay), and to bring back as much provisions as he could carry, whilst Mr Webb ii also to do the same thing from Queenstown on his return journey, about Monday next. 15y the time all these provisions are likely to be consumed—say, in about a month—it is thought that Donald will be sufficiently recovered to enable him, by easy stages, to reach Martin's Bay, where he could remain until thoroughly convalescent, which cannot be l>ffore three or four months to come, aud then perliaps to take some steamer for Duuedin or other centre.