Further Experiences of a New Zealander in British Columbia.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 1, 4 January 1908, Page 12

Further Experiences of a New Zealander in British Columbia.

TOWARDS the end of November we published in “The Graphic ” portions of the illustrated diary of Mr. Frank Bui lock-Webster, an adventurous young Aucklander, who had elected to brave the winter rigours of the wilds of British Columbia in search of sport, and fortune, and adventure. So interesting did that diary prove that many readers took the trouble to write, hoping that we might be permitted to make extracts from

any further letters Mr. Frank Webster should write to his people. By the courtesy <>f his father, Mr. Bullock-Webster, of the Pah, Auckland, we are now enabled to give a few notes from a highly interesting but briefer letter, accompanied by some excellent snapshots, and the welcome promise of more when further letters and pictures are received. It will be remembered that Mr. Webster had taken up a position on the Telegraph Department of the Dominion on an outpost near the Iscoot River, on the borders of Alaska and British Columbia. It is from there he writes, mainly this time, it will be seen, of sport, which appears to be capital. I am going to have a line of traps out this winter for Martin and Lynx; then* are a few round here. 1 think. 1 shall use the No. 0 steel trap for Marten —Jackson and I have about 4 dozen between us. If we have luck, we should catch a dozen or so between us. 1 am sorrv I have a house to build this

fall, or I think I should have got some sheep and a bear or two. One of the best sheep countries is about 15 miles from here. There are grizzilies there, too. A party of hunters from Boston was in there this year, and they got all the game the law allowed them to. 1 shall go next fall, anyhow, before any hunters get in there. They are nice. Hat topped mountains —not the sharp, jagged mountains you see in the photos I am sending you. I have not been in a

caribou country yet, though there are some round Dease Lake in the summer. There are millions of them to be got in this country (Cassiar) though, if one goes to look for them. The hunters get some every year. 1 will make you a pair of Moose Rock boots some time this year. They are fine things to wear, though they stink awfully in a damp country, because you just skin ’em off the moose, sew up the toes, and put ’em on, and “hit the grit.” I went up to the mountains (0 miles from here) the other day, and shot four goats. I had a most exciting and difficult hunt after them. too. I saw some away up on the side of the mountain, in the rocks, so I climbed up above them and shot two; the others went otf among some rocks where I could not see them, so I rolled my two deaders off the mountain into the creek below, and went after the others. I soon eaught up to them—they are awfully stupid—and killed one and broke another's leg.

I only had one cartridge left then, so I started to run him down. If you have hunted goat on the “roof of the world” you will know what a risky undertaking it was. I followed him right to the topmost top of the mountain, and came on him just trying to cross a little snow-slide, about 50 yards from me. I took a careful aim and got him right in the heart. He fell end over end down that slide till I thought he would suddenly fly to pieces, but he was alright

when I found him in the creek at the very bottom of the mountain. I got home pretty late, but Jackson, who is a fair cook, had a good feed for me. Next day a pack train (which had been taking the outfit of some police, who are looking for a half-breed who shot a chap at Hazelton) was on its way to T. C., so J rode a stumpy old mule on an apparayjo (pack-saddle) for eight miles, and then the Indian and I took two mules and went up the 6-mile creek to where my goats were, and, packed

them down to camp. I sent three of the goats to the H.B.U. I should get 30 dollars or so for them (for meat;. My new partner is a little Englishman, about sft lin, and about Ost 71bs. Says he is a son of F. N. Lane-Jackson; not a bad little chap, and we will get along very well, I think. He does the cooking now. When we get our house finished and are settled down my job will be to cut the wood and pack the water, his to cook. He’s not a bad cook;

makes very good bread. We use yeast cakes. I will give you a list of our grub supply. 1 can send and receive a message now on the wire, but only slowly; next winter I shall be able to “take press” I hope, i.e., get the associated press news which goes to Dawson. I started my diary last month again. Jackson and 1 drank my health in a hot rum on my birthday. I hope to have a more comfortable Christmas this year than last. There is a trail from T.C. to Hazelton, 302 miles by the wire, a little

more by the trail. The right-of-way of the wire is about 40 feet wide on an average; the trail does not go under the wire all the way, though. We get 24 tins soup, 12 tins tongues, 48 tins tomatoes, 24 tins cabbages, 24 tins beets, 24 tins corn, 24 tins peas, 144 tins eream, 48 tins milk, 8001bs flour, 2501bs bacon, 1251bs fruit (dry), 251bs cornmeal, 201bs tea, 301bs lard, 281bs

cheese, Dibs raisins. 12 tins jam (51b tins), 12 tins marmalade (21b tins), ti bottles L. ami P. sauce, (i bottles ketchup. 12 bottles piekies, 120 lbs butter (tins), 751bs beans, 1201bs potatoes (dry), 501bs rice, 2501bs sugar, loOlbs ham, 251bs split peas, lOOlbs rolled oats, 301bs cotfee, 3 cans syrup, lOlbs onions (dry), Gibs eggs (dry), 2 bottles vinegar, 21bs pepper, 31bs mustard, lib spice, 2 bottles flavouring extracts, 201bs salt.

151bs baking powder, 12 packets yeast cakes, 1 c/s pork and beans (tins), matches, 2 pairs snow-shoes, filling, soap, lOlbs candles, 2 cans kerosene, Blbs currants; so you see we have a pretty good assortment of grub, though beans and bacon get monotonous if one does not kill some fresh meat. 1 have two dogs and Jackson has one; we feed them on flour and bacon rinds and grease principally. There will probably be three mails in here this winter. The best way to get here, or practically the only way, is to

go to T.C., via Wrangell, between June and August; it’s a devil of a trip up on the ice sometimes, 1 believe, and in the canoes in the spring and fall it takes 12 days, most of which it rains like . Well, I think I have exhausted my supply of news (?). I may be going to town for some tea in 10 days or so; the Government forgot to send any out; if I do I will write again from there.—l remain, vour affectionate son. FRANK BULLOCK-WEBSTER. I will drink your healths on Xmas Day —not in tea.