MY FIRST PIG HUNT.

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 28 March 1903, Page 18

MY FIRST PIG HUNT.

By J.A.VV,

IT was in the early seventies, and I was a new-chum, green as <$rassralso manager of a station, on the Kaipara. Like most new-chums in those days, I had been stuffed with stories of the highly exhilarating sport of pig hunting in New Zealand and I "hankered arter it." . It were vain in my two assistants to assert that there were no wild pigs in the neighbourhood of tne station They couian't gammon me like that, so alter many days of arirument,- entreaty and, iam afraid some coercion, it was resolved tnat we would hunt the pig. 1 didn't notice at the time, Lut I remember now that after tne hunt was decided upon there was much quiet and half suppressed hilarity between the cook Tommy ana the man-about Jimmy - th« grinning idiots ! fa The month was August, and a. wet one at that, so the country wao pretty well flooded. But water couldn't damn my ardour in those days — so we started. 1 had 'em all on— Crimean shirt, mostly red, slouch hat turned up in front, long (and heavy) boots Bedford cords, a belt and a Knife i was especially proud of that knife never having carried one before. Also we had two pig dogs. ' My two mates, with a characteristic disregard for appearances, wore old elastic-side boots, more hole than boot— wise men, those old colonials Hour after hour we toiled up hills or waded swamps Hours again (1 am sure) we trapped through the dense bush, passing only once the clearing oij a solitary settler. Towards evening, when we had just turned for home, the dogs were heard barking furiously in the distance. 1 made a bee-line for the sound, knife in hand tearing and falling, whoop, splash' bang, head over heels through suppleJack, bush lawyers, creeks, mud slush, and every infernal obstacle peculiar to the New Zealand bush Arrived to find a pig with a. dog holding on to each ear, stabbed the pig savagely in the throat several times, and then sat down, fairly winded, to count up results. Crimean shirt ribbons ; Bedford cords, ripped ; slouch hat, gone ; boots, full of water ; (and legs of course ; face and hands slashed and bleeding. The pig was an unconscionable time dying, but he was dead when my friends appeared. They were neither torn nor bleeding (came round by a track probably, damn 'em). Anyway they cut up the pig into three parts' and I have always had a suspicion that I got the biggest share, which— considering the distance it had to be carried— was very generous on their part, wasn't it now ? 1 confess right here that never in my life was death from exhaustion so near io me as when we arrived home that night. Don't ask me the time— l don't know it. I feel tired, even now, when 1 think of it. Next day I crowed, of course. We had got a fine, fat barrow pig, weight 210fts, which proved my mates to be lying, lazy beggars, who didn't w.int the trouble of hunting On the evening of the second day a Mr Jingle (shades of Alfred of that ilk !) dropped into tea, and was introduced tome as a neighbouring settler Of course, the pig hunt came up for discussion with the chops, and I enthusiastically held forth upon the advantages of pig hunting, from a sporting and domestic economy point of view, giving a sly dig here and there at certain parties who would rather buy meat at sixpence a pound than go out and fetch it for nothing. Mr .Jingle had an especially good time that night with the whisky, and the only bottle we had was empty before he declared his intention of tearing himself from us. Before leaving he wrote out for my edification what he termed a " little billy doo." It ran as follows :-- Mr A. Jinks, exq. (The infernal flatterer.) To A. Jingle. (Great Scott, it must be Alfred.) To 1 teme pig isack 210 ponds at 6d a pond £5 5s 0d Both my assistants had pressing business outside just then, but I strongly suspect that during the subsequent proceedings each of them had a weather eye glued to a distinct and separate craok in the wooden chimney. I didn't laugh. I tried, but it cackled, and I deny emphatically that the few pious observations I remember making were either directly or iniirectly asiociated with hilarity of any kind. Thank goodness, the subSWjuent happenings are shrouded in a

merciful haze that I have no desire to disperse. It has been asserted, and, possibly with some truth, that I danced a haka upon that " billy doo " and on a subsequent occasion Mr A. Jingle declared upon oath that 1 danced a haka upon him. I don't deny it. When I think of it lam too tired to deny anything. However, I eventually paid up^eventually, 1 say— -upon all the parties agreeing to " cheese it." And they " cheesed it."

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