FASCINATION OF THE HILLTOPS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LX, Issue 9345, 16 April 1909, Page 2

FASCINATION OF THE HILLTOPS.

A STRANGE MANIA

For the past month (says tlie Poverty Bay Herald) a strange mau has been wandering about the outskirts of the district, traversiug mountainous country, irrespective of precipitous ciift's, rivers, gorges, aud bush possessed with the one idea, that he must see "what was beyond yonder range." The wanderer is said to be a powerfully-built man, about fortyfivo years of age—mentally deranged, who iv this manner, lias travelled overland from Cambridge, in Waikato. Arriving iv one neighbourhood he hung about the locality for some weeks, theu suddenly disappearing. The man, who appears to be quite inoffensive, has beou in ttie habit of descending upon a homestead or camp after a long tramp and asking for food. He has been kindly treated by the settlers, who, although the stranger lias not attempted to molest anyone or to interfere with property, have felt considerable anxiety regarding his presence. A constable vas hunting for tho man for several days, but his eiratio route and actions made the stranger difficult to follow, and being required elsewhere the constable had to give up the cliase. Traversing the road or open country the man becomes possessed with the determination that lie must get to the top of some distant hilltop, aud scaling this with considerable difficulty, aud perhaps much danger, he is immediately seized with the irratioual idea that ho must see what is beyond the next range. Besides having been rescued from blindly attempting to negotiate a precipitous ravine, lie has been known to go t'oodless for several days, when he develops an abnormal huuger that is no sooner appeased than he must be off again. His feet are raw with his constant travelling, and he has several times been made the recipient of garments. Questioning shows the niau's mind to be seemingly almost a blank, but he is possessed with tho one dormant idea, hilltop climbing. Instructions, wo are given to understand, are being issued for the apprehension of tho wanderer.