SPORTSMEN MAROONED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 13

SPORTSMEN MAROONED

UNENVIABLE EXPERIENCE ELEVEN HOURS IN A MAI MAI To be marooned in a mai mai in Lake Waihola for nearly 11 hours was the unenviable experience of two Dunedin sportsmen, who set out on Saturday morning in an enedavour to secure a linai bag of ducks before the shooting season closed. The two men, father and son, left Berwick at about 10 o clock in a home-made boat, their destination being a mai mai—a small staging about live feet square, built of willow posts, and situated some distance froi# the edge ot the lake. While they were making the crossing the wind freshened, and the water became somewhat 'choppy, the sportsmen having considerable ditticu ty in reaching their objective. ■ - As there seemed little likelihood oi the weather improving, they managed, to collect a few dry sticks and, with the help of their decoys, which had possibilities as firewood, they succeeded, after several efforts, in making a small blaze. _ All the time they were hopeful that their plight would be noticed from the shore, but the afternoon wore on and night fell without any sign of their being delivered from their awkward and uncomfortable positloWith the rising of the lake the two sportsmen found their mai mai almost afloat, and the meagre fire was extinguished. The son, anxious for bis father, took their only billy, punched some hole ß in the bottom, and was able to rekindle another small fife, which brought some little comfort. . „ Between 9 p.m. noticed a light on the shore, which appeared to indicate that someone was going down to the pump house at the lake-side. They made a ball of some twine, dipped it in some kerosene winch they fortunately possessed, and attached the improvised flare to the end of a stick. This was lighted and waved vigorously in the air. The desired effect was obtained, for the light ashore moved off in the direction of where the two knew a large boat was moored, and before very long they were relieved and delighted to near the splash of oars on the lake. During the time the two men were marooned they had eaten only a “ snack ’ which they had taken with them, and they were naturally thankful to reach dry land and food.