TRIP DOWN PATEA RIVER

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1933, Page 8

TRIP DOWN PATEA RIVER

[ FOUR STRATFORD MEN IN BOAT. il PIG-SHOOTING IN BACKBLOCKS. What might well be termed the ideal holiday was undertaken by four young Stratford men last week—a trip down the Patea River by Boat. Weather perfect, the boat standing up well to the rough work such as was experienced when snags and ’rocks were struck, and plenty of time; all went towards a trip both interesting and enjoyable. The four who made the trip were Messrs. S. Pilkington, H. Smart, A. Collins and H. Taylor, all of Stratford, their trusty ship being a 14-foot rowing boat owned by Mr. Pilkington, and the party were . more than satisfied with its “riverworthiness,’ and the way it stood up to hard knocks. The party started out from the Mangamingi ridge at 12 noon on Monday, December 26, and after five days of leisurely travelling reached Patea at 2.30 on Saturday afternoon. Though they took their time there was no gliding down the river with nothing to do but sit back; the course had to be chosen very carefully. No holiday is complete without sport of some kind, and with this idea in mind the party took with them two pig dogs. Speaking to a News reporter yesterday Mr. Smart said that they, could pick the pigs off the bank without any trouble. They had great difficulty in keeping the dogs in the boat, once they scented a pig, and after the sportsmen brought down, one on the bank the dogs went after the animal and dragged it into the water. “We had pork chops once,, said Mr. Smart, “but we mostly used the flesh for dog meat or for eel bait, it being especially good for the latter. The whole of Wednesday was spent pig hunting, the party making a circular cross-country march. They came across one house and obtained milk and new potatoes —a welcome addition to their provisions. i . The possibility of the boat overturning in negotiating the rapids or through striking a rock was not overlooked by the men, and all their provisions were packed in watertight drums, but their clothes, tied in sugar sacks in the bow of the boat, suffered rather severely, and they lived, as Mr. Hunter stated, in shorts and sandshoes—which, may easily be believed when the tinge of the travellers’ skin was observed. The boat suffered no injury, the only mishap being that at one stage two of the crew went overboard. NO TIMETABLE. “We just pulled in when we felt like it, had tea and put up the tent,” said Mr. Smart. They had plenty of time, stopping when the whim took them, to swim and enjoy a sun bath. An interesting fact noticed by the party was the number of clearings along the banks. Trie river was, for the main part, enclosed by thick bush, but an unexpected break would appear every now and then. There was practially no sign of human life, only three inhabited whares being .seen. One agreeable find was made, however—an orchard from which a supply of peaches was obtained. Judging by appearances, f nobody had been... there for years, it being an old plantation. 1 _ The- cliffs sometimes mounted to 400 and’ 500 feet, and the crew of the boat felt as though they were in an oven. The water was practically tepid. The only rain fell on Wednesday, and then it was not heavy enough to necessitate bringing in clothes that jwere hanging out to dry. , Catching eels was the party s duel pastime after tea. They threw the liver of a pig into the water and dozens of eels would come round, from young ones to giants half the length of the boat. They were fat and very well conditioned and provided the party with much exercise and entertainment. Mr/ Smart considered the pigs were very poor and thin. Ducks were scarce this year, no more than fifty being seen during the journey. Firewood for the camp fire at night was easily. obtainable from the river; in fact it kept the “navigator’' fairly busy, as submerged logs and snags, if unobserved, were almost sure to supply the crew of the boat with a ducking. . Sometimes there would be practically no current. Two men would make use of the oars, with one man steering and the other as look-out in the bow. The dogs, sitting in the bow, soon became shrewd, and as soon as rapids were approached would crouch in the . boat and brace themselves for the inevitable buffeting. Thirty miles up the river the party observed a flounder shoot out from under the boat.

Patea was reached at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, the last stages of the journey necessitating hard rowing against the incoming tide. A party from ton left from Mangamingi two hours before the Stratford boat’s departure. The Stratford men passed the first boat at afternoon tea time. The Wellington men intended spending a fortnight oh the trip, and the two parties did not meet again. ELTHAM THEATRE. NOVEL ROMANCE DRAMA. Robert Montgomery makes his bow as a star sailor-hero in “Shipmates,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film showing at Elthani to-night. The picture has a tremendous sweep in the navy backgrounds, showing the plunging line of battleships, on the firing ranges, thundering salvos, repelling the tactical enemy in a mighty spectacle, ‘ terrifying to behold as It flashes on the screen, with all the fury of the gun blasts pounding from the loud speakers. In the shipboard scenes, navy life is depicted in a fascinating intimacy. Harry Pollard, who directed the picture, is to be complimented for the splendid pictorial value of the production. The blending of the shore romance, with the navy interest deftly interpolated. Dorothy Jordan as the admiral’s daughter plays opposite Montgomery, and offers a sparkling performance. It is upon the romance between the sailor and the admiral’s girl that the story hinges, climaxing in the burning of an ammunition barge in which the hero-deserter redeems himself, with the retired admiral leading him to the fiery craft that threatens destruction of the battle fleet as it swings at anchor. • .