THE NEW ZEALAND NETTLE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1871, 17 February 1892, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND NETTLE.

A member of the Hon. Mr Cadman's Stratford route 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 the effect of one or two of our party handliag these plants. But the most serious results were to our packhorses which led the van, and of course had tbe thick of the venom these plants contain. The first packhorse soon began to dance as though he were possessed of seven evil spirits, and finally fell headlong against a stump, flinging his 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 by strychnine, and we had to leave him behind, lying in a pool of mud. Two of us had loßt our riding horses. I may say that nearly every horse was more or less affected, some of them having lumps 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 tbe genuine aboriginal nettle of New Zealand is a most ferocious affair. It will sting through the clotheß, and the pain is dreadful.