HUNTERS HOPELESSLY LOST

Patea Mail, Volume L, 2 August 1929, Page 4

HUNTERS HOPELESSLY LOST

FIFTEEN HOURS IN THE BUSH.

To bo hopelessly lost in desolate, unpopulated country, drenched to the skin and -without food, -was the plight of a natty of pig hunters consisting of S. List. L. Carpenter, 1.. Hall, and D. Lee;

Leaving Pongakawa at 4,.-i0 a.m. on Sunday last, the party went into Crown property in the upper reaches of the Otoromarakau Valley, between Lake Rotoehn and' tMata+ja. After f’oni hours’ tramping through 'trackless country they came across wild pigs. V wild chase led them into desolate country thickly overgrown with fern and undergrowth. Several pigs were secured with the assistance of dogs. Turning homeward the party upon mounting a ridge were alarmed on dis covering they had lost their beatings. Cor four hours they made their way with game, rifles, and dogs to the Otoromarakau stream, crawling- and climbing hrough the roughest of rough couul rv, over razor-backs and precipices. Final I v the river .was reached. Then came the trying ordeal of travelling along the bed of the stream, frequently sinking knee-deep and sometimes waist-deep in icy cold water. Many stops had to be made since one of the party was subject to cramp.

Unable to leave the stream on account of the high-precipitous cliffs, the weary men made slow progress, doing only two mile's in four hours. After being “bushed'-’ for Id hours, till Id o’clock on Sunday night, the -party located a Maori whare. Upon reaching their camp two of the hunters collapsed from exposure and exhaustion, but were revived with brandy before a (ire. Te Puke was reached next morning. The party on srivera! occasions gave up If ope of reaching civilisation.