ARRIVAL OF CATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 131, 14 April 1864, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF CATTLE.

Wk Jive glad to announce that 110 less than four vessels with cargoes of cattle mid slice]) arrived in harbour during the course ■ <t yesterday. W c j trust that, the supply will lie continuous, and j that, the wise conclusion conic to by the Superintendent to remove the restrictions on the importation of cattle into this Province i'roni Gipps Land will be followed in other cases where it can .safely be done. Dear meat is an awful calamity in any country, but doubly so in the colonies, where people have becomc accustomed to so large a consumption of animal food. We should be glad if we could notice as many arrivals wheat and flour. Stocks were never so low here as at the present momenta while by the latest advices from Sau Francisco', flour was there selling at £0 per ton. There is \ this comfort, at any rati:, that, with large stocks so near, we may soon look for a fall in Uie price of bread as we'll as in that of meat. The best joints of meat, ought not to reach beyond six'y pence per lb. in Auckland, and with free te£.d6in. cattle would probably scarcely reach :-o high. /

LOST IN THE BUSH. • Orit readers will remember that three weeks ago last Sunday, a man named Brennan, formerly a Forest Ranger, but then employed at work on the Great South Road near Martyn's Clearing was lost when strolling with his companions. We are glad to say that the unfortunate man, after wandering without other tood than nikau and berries for fifteen days' made his way across the country to the coast, and that though his siilTerings have been great, and that he is still much wasted, his health does not appear to be permanently injured. It appears that on the Sunday in question Brennan with others were strolling about iu the bush, and lie becoming detached from the remainder of the party lost his way. A very diligent search was made for him both by Mr. Martyn, and his comrades, but, as we know, without success. Brennan had with him a gun, but unfortunately neither shot nor ball, and to his gun lie was consequently unable to look as a source of food. The only use indeed it was to him was during the first three days and nights, when by the assistance of some powder and caps he was enabled to kindle a tire. When the supply of these fell short he left the gun against a tree as only a useless encumbrance.

During the first three days the sun was not visible, and a heavy mist hanging all around prevented Brennan, although a good bushman, from making use of his knowledge, and we can understand that when the fourth day dawned on the unhappy man. judgment would be lost in the energy of desperation. It seems, however, that he fell across some cattle tracks shortly afterwards, and as he was one of the party of Forest Rangers who once penetrated the bush to Paparata, he was lead into the belief that they would lead him to that place. At any rate he had no other choice than to follow them, which he did for days, until they brought him into a deep rugged valley, such as he had never seen before in New Zealand. The ground he describes as so broken that once down in amongst the rocks and gulches he dreaded lest lie should ever have strength to clamber out. The travelling he describes as fearful, the cattle tracks were lost, and over the rough stones and sharp pointed crags through which lie had principally to clamber grew a dense and at times a heavy bush—a few berries the only food he coidd procure. Following the downward course of this valley, with scarcely a rag of clothing on his torn and bleeding body, on the fifteenth daj r , to his intense delight, he came on an old deserted looking native ?chare, into which he crawled expecting to find some remnant of food. In this he was disappointed, but perceiving a piece of an old Maori blanket, and feeling certain that he should soon emerge into an inhabited part of the country, he commenced sewing a waist cloth about his loins, with the assistance of his knife and some flax.

"While so engaged lie heard a rustling noise, and turning round saw a Maori standing over him with 11 morticing axe in his hand. Startled bv this sudden appearance and dreading violence lie held up his hand in a deprecating manner and entered into a description of his situation. The Maori told him not to be afraid, that he was a Queen's native, and that he would lead him to wherelie should find food and friends. Brennan had still doubts in his mind as to the Maori's good intentions, and evidently showed them in his look and manner, for the native at once threw awav his axe into the bush as a guarantee of his kind intention, and Brennnn immediately allowed himself to be led away by his deliverer to a short distance, where within view of the sen, and, joyful sight, of a steamer at anchor, he found himself among a party of natives not far from the harbour of the Thames. He was kindlj" treated, clothed, and fed, and led to the house of a European. Thus ended the dangers and privations of a fifteen days exposure in ths bush of New Zealand. without food save the pith of the Nikau tree and the few berries he picked upon the way. Brennnn was a stout and rather fat man when he was lost, as may be easily imagined even now lie appears sadly altered. He describes the country through which he passed to be some of the most broken which he ever saw either in Australia or California, aucl on his describing particular valley mentioned, to the natives, they told liiin they knew the place, but never dared to venture into it. He is an old gold digger and says that there were many evidences of gold presented to him in his journey, hut that of course he despaired too much of liis life and was too weak to prosecute any further examination. "We cannot conclude without drawing attention to the very praiseworthy conduct ot the natives, the more so as it is a remarkable exception to the course which they are usually known to pursue. Such conduct is deserving of reward. i | | ! I | 1