STUDENT HIKER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 17 February 1933, Page 7

STUDENT HIKER

DUNEDIN TO WHANGAREI AT PRESENT AT NELSON Tramping from Dunedin to Whangarei and back may seem a dreary occupation, but Mr Frank Harris, an Otago University student, who has nearly completed this undertaking, has not found it so. Mr Harris is at present in Nelson and expects to leave for the South via the West Coast tomorrow.

“It lias been a wonderful trip and I have learned much,” said Air Harris. “I reached Auckland on 20th December, and went on to Whangarci, arriving back in Auckland on Christmas Eve. While there I attended the Student Christian Movement Conference and after 3 weeks’ rest began the tramp homeward.

“With 2s in my pocket, and a day’s food, I set out to do the journey through the Urewera country by the beautiful Waikarcmoana road, and I had 131 miles to go before I could call on another white man,’ he related. “I tramped on and on, sleeping, beneath tlic stars, and when the food was nearly gone, I fell in with a party of Maoris who were going to a big tangi, so I travelled with them, slept in their pus and had a wonderful insight into their li£e.”

After lie readied Palmerston North on the southward journey, Air Harris made an extra trip up the centre of the island to Tauinarunui and hack, and arrived in Wellington on Saturday, after walking 41)5 miles in .'lO marching days. ifr Harris expects to have walked over 500 miles lief ore lie reaches Dunedin to recommence his studies at the beginning of the university session, and when the journey is completed he will have travelled 2000 miles.