The New Zealand Nettle.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6753, 6 February 1892, Page 2

The New Zealand Nettle.

A member of Mr Cad man’s exploring party writes Passing through the forest about eight miles from our camping ground we came upon a growth of ongaonga or New Zealand nettle, and some amusement was caused by (ho effect of one or two of our party handling these plants. But the most serious results were to our pack-horses which led the van, and of course had the thick of the venom these plants contain. The first pack-horse soon began to dance as though he were possessed of seven evil spirits, and finally fell headlong against a stump, flinging bis legs about in every direction, making it dangerous to go near him for the purpose of taking his pack off. Eventually we succeeded in getting his load off, when he sprang up and rushed through the bush, kicking and making the bush fly in every direction. Of course we had to put the pack on another horse, and leave the old packer behind. About two miles further on the other packhorse was similarly affected, only his symptoms were much more acute. The poor brute lay foaming at the mouth, as though he were poisoned bt strychnine,' and we had to leave him behind, lying in a pool of mud. Two of ua bad lost our riding horses. I may say that nearly every horse was more or less affected, some of them having lamps as large as eggs over their eyes and shoulders.—Most of our readers are, no doubt, familiar with the English nettle, and are, perhaps, disposed to look upon nettles as a trifling obstruction. But the genuine aboriginal nettle of New Zealand is a most ferocious affair. It will sting through the clothes, and the pain is dreadful.