A CANOE JOURNEY

Patea Mail, 5 January 1940, Page 2

A CANOE JOURNEY

TEOM TOEO TO PATEA AX INTERESTING TRIP Tluit the spirit of adventure is still to t.'c fore among New Zealanders was illustrated during the recent holidays when two residents of the district, Messrs George Francis and Ron Bates decided to make a trip down the Patea River from Toko to the river mouth by canoe. Those who have previously made the journey have been content to make the journey from somewhere in the vicinity of Eltham, but these two adventurous spirits decided to go one better and make the journey from the back of Toko. Accordingly they took a 14 foot canoe, and a couple of large cream cans by lorry to a spot at the back of Toko known as Huinga. This was part of the (10,000 acres of Toko land owned by Mr, Thomas Bayly and successfully farmed for some years by the late Messrs Alf and Charley Bayly, the well-known footballers, the former being captain of thO All -Black team for several years. The Huinga portion of this estate was later sold to the Government, w T ho utilised it for closer settlement purposes. After leaving Toko and journeying,’ 1 along the Toko road one reaches the Makuri River. Here Messrs Francis and Bates turned off' and followed the river until it joins the Patea River. Arriving at,the junction the canoe waai unloaded from the lorry, which returned to Patea. The two cream cans containing the sleeping bags, food supplies and a : change of raiment, being watertight and buoyant, it was felt would float, and keep everything dry should the canoe be capsized in the numerous rapids that had to be negotiated.

'The time when the junction of the two rivers was reached was about 5 p.mi, and a start on the adventurous journey was at once made. The journey was -good, and after paddling some nine miles dusk began to fall, and camp was made for the night. After a good tea the sleeping 1 ba»;s were brought out and both men. settled down to a good rest. Neither needed any «rocking after their exertions -with the paddles, and a good night’s, sleep was enjoyed until daylight . Fortunately the night was fine and the adventurers slept in comfort. When day broke breakfast was cooked and the journey resumed. The first mile or two gave the travellers plenty of thrills, rapid after rapid being met with and successfully negotiated. As some were in places where the banhs w’ere steep, both wondered how they would fare if the canoe capsized or was stove in on the many boulders iij, the rapids. However luck was /with them and after several very narrow escapes a stretch of good water with low banks was mot with. Neither of' the* two had taken a watch and they were beginning to wonder what the time was and where they were when they saw some % pine trees adjoining the river and assumed there was a house near, so they decided to investigate. On reaching the pine trees they found their surmise was correct, and on knocking at the door of the homestead it was opened by the lady Of the house, who immediately addressed Mr. Bates by name and asked him how he came to be there. Mr. Bates explained what he and Mr. Francis were doing, and to the latter’s surprise said “Allow me .to introduce you to Mrs. Francis.” ‘‘ls this a joke or what?’ asked Mr. Francis, and Mr. Bates explained itoat the land they were on was the farm ot a Mi. and Mrs. Francis, whom he happened to know. •

After a brief rest the journey was resumed, when more rapids wore met with, but the danger in negotiating them was more than compensated for by the beauty of the scenery on both banks of' the. river, beautiful fern-cov-ered ridges running down to the water’s edge, making a-lovely picture. At one point a shag’s rookery was passed, 'whore there must ha\ e been at least 200 shags. Night came on and still the adventurers were (some distance from Paten, so another halt was called and the sleeping bags brought into requisition.

The third and final day was a repetition of the former ones, the canoe having several narrow escapes from overturning. Where the going was exceptionally bad both got out of the canoe and eased it through .the worst ■parts. Eventually, after several hours of strenuous paddling Patea was reached about 5 p.m. Both of the canoeists admitted being fairly tired after their long journey pi something like 130 miles. Although weary both declared they would not have missed the trip for anything, the scenery being magnificent, particularly when nearing home. The latter portion.of the journey was really the most difficult, as the river some miles up from Patea was well strewn with logs and snags, and the greatest care had to be taken to prevent the canoe being stove in. ’ When some distance from their destination the travellers saw a whare not far from the river, and on inspecting it they found a private telephone inside. They were only too glad to ring up and ascertain their exact whereabouts. A reply was. received that they were, at the “back of bevond, ” somewhere in the neighbourhood of Hurleyville. This was good news, as it showed they were nearing home, so the paddles Were used with a will, and after a strenuous time they reached the journey’s end. Canoeists are not advised to attempt the feat of these two warriors unless they are expert swimmers, and have a stout canoe, like themselves, capable of withstanding hard knocks.