KAIMANAWA COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 10

KAIMANAWA COUNTRY.

DEER-STALKERS' TRIP. (WILD, UNEXPLORED REGION. / WONDERFUL BIRD LIFE. GOOD SPORT EXPERIENCED. / With the exception of the, north-west territory of Otago, there is probably no large area of New Zealand lcs3 known than the Kaimanawa country, lying between the range of that naino and the Upper Ruahines, info which an Auckland party of deer-stalkers recently penetrated. Its members were Messrs. F. G. Baskett, the organiser of the expedition, R. A. Cornish, T. J. Cole, and H. Clinton Savage. They"/ struck into it to the east of Waiouru, and skirting the clumps of forest that consists solely of beech and "five fingers," made their way up ravines and over divides, a total distance of 40 miles to the point where they established their base camp. They had three pack-horses, and it took three days to do the journey. Hay had to bo carried- for the horses. From this camp tho men in pairs made stalking trips of two or three days, one or other party usually being always in camp to care for tho horses. On flying trips they had nnly sleeping-bags. for shelter. Beyond tho base camp, their pack-horse could not go. Many of the streams were impassable, necessitating arduous detours, and occasionally, when crossing valleys, almost precipitous faces had to be negotiated when they had to descend carefully with the aid of roots and sometimes ropes. -Arduous Travelling. The country is of broken shala forma* tion, and makes tho going heavy, some of the divides, which reach 4000 ft. above sea level,' taking four or five hours to climb. The country is similar to that of the foothills of the Southern Alps. It is very wild and desolate, and tho chief danger is that of being lost when dense fogs come down. These may last for days and when stalkers become enveloped their best course is to make for the timber-line, light a fire and wait for visibility. The party crossed tho head waters of the Rangitikei River, and doubtless travelled some country not previously explored. The crossing was very difficult, three hours being occupied in getting down to the riverbed and up the other side'.

Red deer were plentiful. In this territory each stalker may take three heads and shoot an unlimited number of hinds. The party were thus able to rely for food mainly on venison, without which their commissariat arrangements would have had to have been more comprehensive. They did not secure any very good heads, but the sport was splendid. This country is noted for heavy "wood" in antlers —thai is, they are thick and rugged, even if symmetry is not an outstanding feature. Eight days out of three weeks were wet. and there was one fall of snow. Birds Without Fear. '"Of particular interest to the party was the bird-life of the bush zones. Mr. Savage, who is familiar with Little Barrier Island, a sanctuary, where the birds are plentiful and 'tame, says that he never had seen birds so tame. Evidently they had never seen human beings, and were surprisingly free from enemies. Bell-birds were very numerous. Early in/the morning at the base-camp, eight or ten would burst into song in the branches overhead. They are wonderful songsters, there being great variety in th/eir music. Some of the notes were similar to those of tho tui. There were few tuis, but a great population of a bird new to Mr, Savage, the North Island wood-robin, or toutouwai. It has dark plumage, and is heavily built with long legs jointed close to the body. Thismakes it a rare hopper. Visitors in the Tent. "This fellow was very friendly," said Mr. Savage. "Two or three often came inside our tent when we were in bed, and after fluttering about came to rest on the bar from which we hung the billies, and did not object to the smoke from them. They were particularly fond of butter, or anv other kind of fat. and would eat it nut of our hands. If one kept perfectly fit ill they would sit on one's foot or knee." Another type, the white, or bush, canary, the Maori name of which is popokotea. was also tame and curious. It is grey in body, but. white, at the throat and head apd flies about in groups of 15 or 20 like {he white-eye. It also has a very fine iiote. Another plentiful variety was the bush -wren, or tititi pounnmu, one of the smallest of New Zealand birds. It is slightly smaller than the tomtit, being grey with green wing feathers. It has a very short tail. Its habits arc similar to those of the white-eye. It lives on insects and is constantly seeking its food in the moss of the tree trunks / The native spar,rowhawk, which is just about half the size of the ordinary harrier and is very dark-brown, was occasionally seen. He is wonderfully swift on the wing much faster than the harrier. He swoops over the trees, disturbs the birds and then shoots like an arrow at his prey. The stalkers saw the sparrowhawk kill small birds on the. wing, and such is the speed of his flight that he can follow and catch the bird in bis talons. Other birds noted were the morepork, or ruru, which was riot in great numbers, and the black fan tail, a bird slightly smaller than tho familiar white and black kind. Only birds and deer inhabit this region. There are no rabbits, rats or mice, and no wild oaf He, although wild horses arc to be found in the low country. It was a great delight to the party 1o find a king/Inni of birds that, had not learned to fear man, and also to encounter some birds were new to them.