PIG HUNTER INJURED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 189, 12 August 1931, Page 7

PIG HUNTER INJURED

SUDDEN FALL OF TREE MAORI’S ORDEAL IN BUSH THAMES, Aug. H. A Maori, Tommy Hoko, was seriously inured in the bush during the weekend. Accompanied by his brother-in-law, T. Moko, a licensed gumdigger, living at Little Saddle, near the iivcmile peg at. Coroglcn, Hoko '"ent pighunting at the back of Coroglcn. They shot two pigs, but as it was getting dark they left the carcases and turned for home. At 8.30 p.m., when near the source of the Waiwawa River, the two decided to have a rest. They lit a fire very close to a birch tree and prepared

torches to enable them to see their waythrough the thick bush. Both fell asleep. Moko woke first and noticed that the fire had eaten into tho roots of the tree. Before he could rouse Hoko the tree fell right across the latter’s hip, pinning hii . to the ground. Moko could not lift the tree off his companion, so with his hand and tree branches ho dug the earth away from under Hoko and eventually released him.

Making tho injured man as comfortable as possible, Moko walked 5J miles early next morning to the camp and obtained the assistance of James Hohaia, but the two found they could not manage to carry Hoko over the rough country. Again Moko returned to the camp and obtained more assistance. Hoko was finally brought out on to the Tapu-Coroglcn Road. A Maori boy was sent for more assistance.

An improvised stretcher was used and Hoko was carried down the track to a motor-lorry, which had had difficulty in negotiating the track owing to the mud and slips. Hoko was brought to the Thames Hospital, where ho was found to have received a broken leg, broken ribs and severe bruises.