TREK INTO UREWERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 14

TREK INTO UREWERA.

SEARCH FOR STOCK ROUTE.

EXPEDITION FROM WHAKATANE. A STRENUOUS EXPERIENCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHAKATANE, Saturday. Members of an oxploring expedition from Whakatane have just returned after a three-days' trip into the Urewera Country to ascertain whether a stock route was feasiblo through the Urowcra to shorten the distance between Whakatane and Gisborne About 20 miles woro traversed. Those who took part in the trek were Mess.ni. C. H. Brobner (county engineer), L. P SwarLrick, H. R. Robinson, 11. N. McDonald, W. I. Gardiner, G. S. Bullen and Masters Jack Swarbfick and Clem Brebner. The party motored from Whakatane beyond M'ltahi as far as the track would permit and then proceeded on foot. At tho beginning the weather conditions were perfect and the party started off in excellent spirits. Tliey followed up the course of what 13 known as tho Waiiti Strearo in a south-easterly direction toward Motuliora. On numerous occasions the stream was crossed and recrossed, the party wadir.g at times up to tho waist and on two occasions up to their necks. Path Cut Through Undergrowth. A track on either sido of the rivet was well defined in places, but sometimes it was only barely discernible, and a way had occasionally to bo cut through supplo jacks, bush lawyers, ferns and othei undergrowth After journeying foi about two hours the party came to a deep part of the creek which had to bo crossed to pick up the track on tho bank at the other side. All members of tho party, with the exception of two, waded in u» to their necks and breasted the swilt current for some distance before they landed. Messrs. Brebner and Robinson decided to climb up the face of the slope and so avoid an immersion. It looked easy, but proved a difficult and dangerous task in negotiating the ridge. It took them nearly an hour to rejoin tho rest of tho party, who in the meantime had dried their clothes in the hot sun. The party continued to trudge through the creek and bush in a south-easterly direction with the intention" of making for the junction of the Wanti and Koaunui Streams, but the junction was missed, as the track become undefined. High Altitude Reached. About two miles further on the party camped for the night at an altitude of about 1500 ft. above sea level. Messrs. Brebner and Swarbrick went on practically to tho source of the Waiiti Stream reaching .a high altitude and getting toward tho main leading ridge to Mangapohatu; They found that the country rose very rapidly and was rough and precipitous. Accordingly they decided it was impossible to get a road through that portion of the country. Wild pigs abounded in the lccality and th« three pig dogs that accompanied them succeeded in capturing a fine young boar, which was brought into camp and cooked in true bush fashion over the campfire. At dawn next day tho- campers were awakened by a chorus of birds in the bush. As day broke a beautiful spectacle of bush-clad ridges met the eye, a warm tone of colour prevailing as the sun rose. Precipitous Area Explored.

After a sumptuous breakfast of roasted wild pig the country at the back of the camp site was explored. It was found to rise very rapidly The ridge ran in an easterly direction and then south for about a mile and a-half until the highest point was reached, about 1600 ft. above the camp site level and 3100 ft above sea level.

It was decided that the party should return down stream to the junction of the Waiiti and Koaunui Streams and explore eastward. On the way down Messrs, Brebner and Swarbrick investigated at) unmapped stream running east and followed it up practically to its source. They found it to be running into precipitous country and came to the conclusion that the only possible way for a road was up the Koaunui Stream. The party arrived at the junction of the Waiiti and Koaunui Streams and decided to camp there for the rest of the day and night. Successful Fig Hunt.

On the way to the camp site one of the party noticed a mob of pigs and it was "resolved to have a hunt. After a substantial meal a start was made with the dogs. Only half a mile had been traversed when the three dogs made off and*,, fivo minutes later the dogs wero heard barking. The hunters discovered that the dogs had bailed up a big boar in the middle of a stream. Two of the dogs had each gripped an ear of the boar, which made not a sound, but grimly struggled' to get rid of his tormentors. The boar injured one dog, but the latter held on. Ultimately one of the party shot the boar.

After the hunt Messrs. Brebner and Swarbrick pushed on up (ho Koaunui Stream for three miles and found the going comparatively good as far as they went. They were satisfied that the only feasible scheme for a road was along this stream. In (be nighi rain fell, but the party slept well. Return Trip in Rain.

Shortly after dawn steady rain fell, so the party sought what shelter they could and made the best of it A hearty breakfast was enjoyed, wild pig again varied with bread, raisins and chocolate, washed down with tea without milk or sugar. The party started on the homeward trek about 11 a.m. following the route along the Waiiti Stream again During most of the journey rain fell jn torrents and the party were glad to reach shelter when they emerged from the wilds. In the Maori village of Whakarae the party hired a motor-lorry from the natives and were driven along a rough road for eight miles to Donncr's farm at Tahora in the Nukuhou district. This portion of the journey was the most uncomfort able of all, owing to the rain, and was cold It was a very bedraggled band of travellers that arrived at the Tahora station late in the afternoon and was most hospitably received by Mr and Mrs J. M Breingan. Later motor-cars arrived and took the party back to Whakatane. Another expedition is to be held with the object of further investigating the possibilities of n road toward Motuhora