HUNTING BIG GAME.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2440, 6 September 1921, Page 5

HUNTING BIG GAME.

EXPLOITS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

I.ECT U.lvE BY

MR. 11. OSTLER

The Oddfellows’ Hall, Cambridge,

was well filled on Saturday night last, to hear Mr H. Ostler deliver a lecture on Lisl-recent hunting expedition in South Africa..

The gathering was held under the

auspices of the Cambridge Hod and Gun Club. Mr S. Lewis (Mayor) occupied the chair, and introduced Mr Ostler, who,

he said, was known to a good many in Cambridge, he being a prominent member of the Acclimatisation Society.

Mr Ostler stated that he did toot in-

tend to give a. leeure, but he had been pcrst’Jided by Mr XL Reynolds to come to Cambridge, and give them a talk on his experiences during a recent hunting expedition fu‘‘South Africa. The speaker said that for many years he had looked forward to visiting South Africa, with the object of hunting big game, and. at last he had an opportun-ity-jsKvcfirryinß' out his .wishes in this respect. He had been accompanied on

his tour, which occupied some nine months, by Mr Mackenzie, of Auckland, and the two had spent a glorious holiday.*

Mr Ostler told of his preparations for the trip, and how he and his companion had received great assistance from General ►Smuts, to whom they had .a letter of introduction from Mr Massey. They travelled by train as far as they could, a distance of some 2000 miles from Capetown, and then the expedition proper started, the huntsmen travelling by foot, as, owing to the dreaded fly, no horses, or even dogs, could live in a great portion of the country'over which they travelled. Consequently, they had to depend on Native boys to carry their impedimenta. These boys’ loads were restricted to 601bs, but they would walk all day long with their (301 b loads, and never tire. Mr Ostler described the first stage of their journey, some 80 miles, which occupied four days. The country in that part of South Africa is one huge plateaii, from 4000 to 6000 feet above sea level. The rainfall there averages between 50 and 60 inches per annum. During the hot weather the grass was all burned by the fires which spread over the whole countryside, but soon after there appeared a carpet of wild flowers, and the grass, followed, growing luxuriantly and very quickly. The climate was most exhilarating and one could walk all day, and not feel distressed. Mr Ostler, in describing the adventures of himself and Mr Mackenzie,and their experiences in hunting various sorts of animals, engaged the closest attention of his audience. , His account of hunting elephants was particularly interesting, every detail being closely followed, while, the lecturer’s description of hair-breadth escapes of the/two huntsmen thrilled his hearers. Th(f first elephant they secured gave them over lOOlbs of "ivory, while the 2 tusks, of another, shot by Mr Ostler, weighed 70 and 721bs respectively. At that time the ruling price for ivory was no less than 45/ per pound, but shortly after the price had fallen to about" 10/ to 12/. The two huntsmen

had secured five elephants —all splendid, big animals. Their licenses entitl- " ed them to take four elephants apiece, but they> had passe'd many animals, hoping to get bigger ones, and then had not the opportunity. Mr Ostler gave some most interesting particulars of the country through which they passed. He stated that

wherever they met white people they '• were received with open arms, and treated most hospitably. In several centres where they stayed there were little bands of - Englishmen who had not seen other white people for months —some not for years. Upper Rhodesia

was, roughly speaking, about 450 miles square, and the Native population of that area was approximately about a million. The whole of this great

population was under the control of about sixteen or seventeen white people, who had no organised force to assist them, but controlled the people wisely and well. When one saw what splendid work was being done by

these men, said Mr Ostler, it made-one proud to be an Englishman. The speaker briefly described the latter stages of his trip, telling many

thrilling incidents of the hunt, and giving interesting details of the country through i which they passed. The address was brimful of interest and was greatly enjoyed by all present. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Ostler, and a wish was expressed that he would on another oe : esftibn, give further particulars of his experiences in South Africa.