HUNTING MOOSE IN THE YUKON

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 211, 7 September 1938, Page 3

HUNTING MOOSE IN THE YUKON

Interesting Films of Wild Life MR. K. W. DALRYMPLE’S TALK AT FEILDING Hunting moose in the Yukon was the subject of an illustrated address delivered by Mr. K. W. Dairymple, of “ Waitatapia," Parewanui, to members of the Feilding Civic Club at the luncheon gathering yesterday. Mr. T. L. Mills (president) presided over a large attendance and the address, which was followed with great interest, was aided by the screening of moving pictures which Mr. Dalrymple took on his last trip to the Yukon territory of Canada. Before screening the films Mr. Dalrymple referred to the prevailing ignorance concerning the geographical location of the territory known as tho Yukon which many people accepted as being in Alaska. The Yukon and Alaska were different countries although contiguous, but it was wroug to think that tho Yukon was in Alaska. The films would show tho class of country in which ho had hunted—a territory which was 2000 miles away from Ottawa which really controlled the Yukon. Such centralised control had its disadvantages in many ways, one of which was the erratic mail services which originally were conveyed by dog teams, then by tractors and quite recently a plane service, operating twice a week, had been inaugurated. Ho touched briefly on plant and flower life in this bleak region, stating that flowers moro beautiful than thoso cultivated in New Zealand grew wild but had a very short existence since summer endured but for two months and tho flowers themselves lasted for only a few days. They grew in profusion in season and were a very beautiful sight. Summer temperatures were hotter than those in New Zealand bui in the winter the readings were always alluded to as being so many degrees below zero, being from 40 to 50 and often to 60 degrees below. The cold there, however, was different from ours, in that it was dry and given the proper clothing was endurable without discomfort. In summer the people dressed similarly to those in New Zealand, cotton frocks, etc., with silk stockings which even the Indian maidens wore, but iu the wintor they were wrapped iu skins and furs and generally canvas suits which seemed to be the more suitable for keeping out the cold and wet. Away from the river, which was the principal line o» communication, tho chief means of transport were the huskies—remarkable dogs of good temper which carried loads from 501bs. to 701bs. and were usually used in teams of six, but for heavy loads, such a 3 mails, teams up to 12 were used. There were no roads and tho dog teams worked over the frozen snow, the routes crossing frozen rivers with the going generally easy. Tractors now did much of this heavy transport work and made journeys of 300 miles a week. With the advent of the plane service distance had been eliminated. Journeys which often took up to six weeks were now accomplished by aeroplane in a day. This had brought to the settlers of tho Yukon fresh foods. Tho normal larder was passing since the people were now no longer obliged to live on tinned foods because the plane service brought all kinds of fresh foods including vegetables and fruits. The result of this was manifested in the health of the settlers which had substantially improved. The people of the Yukon, continued Mr. Dalrymple, were a happy and contented lot, quite cheerful and satisfied with their existence. It soemed that onco a person, settled in tho Yukon tho desire to see the outsido world again disappeared. Ho instanced cases of those who had travelled out to Vancouver and had no sooner arrived in the city than they counted the days which would see them back homo again. Life was too swift in Vancouver for those who had given themselves up to the free, wide spaces of the Yukon where thcro was never any bustle or hurry and where there was continual peaco and contentment. New Zealand was not so well known among the settlers but it only needed one to say that he was from New Zealand to ensure a warm welcome. He would be shown everything and treated to the very best they had. Comparisons regarding tho glaciers and scenery along the forbidding coastline of the north formed tho subject of discussions on tho boat while travelling down the coast, continued the speaker. Of one immense glacier the suggestion was mado that New Zealand possessed one of certain dimensions, comparable with that which tho ship was passing. Later on the speaker was shown an other and was expressing admiration for its beauty when someone remarked that one ought to see Milford Sound for real beauty.

Tho films were then screened and the first section dealt with tho life of tho species of dog, known as tho znamaluke, used iu the Yukon. They were smaller

than the real huskio aud more eventempered. The film depicted them at play, at work and resting and was most interesting. A series of pictures dopicting camp life aud wooded scones, tho haunts of the caribou and the moose, herds of which were seen along with tho wild mountain sheep. Beautiful scenes in colour of tho trip up and down tho great Pelly river wore also shown wliilo the final film gave an interesting record of the trip home as far as Fiji. ‘Mr. Dalrymple has not only given uj a very vivid description of his trip to tho Yukon but ho has also brought tho

country back to us with his excellent films," said Mr. H. D. Somerset in moving a vote of thanks to tho speaker.