Christmas at Maud Creek

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CHRISTMAS AT MAUD CREEK. Together with the Rotoiti Base Comp-ites and Laurie's Travers Trip Den Collings (Leader), Colin Horne, Mike Redington, Des and Mel Manning, Keith Gerbutt, "Bing Heath, Inez Bluck and Ellen Slattery were conveyed to Picton on the "Tam" and shared the cold, early hours in Picton and the Bus to Rotoiti with them. From Rotoiti we proceeded another fourteen miles by road and then reluctantly seid goodbye to the luxury bus to head for Maud Creek. The weather was rather warm so we dallied a while at "Jack the Devil's" place where we picked up our supplies; however, after a cuppa and a rest in the shade we moved.off with much heavier packs. We arrived at the Hut which was to become our home for the next two weeks about sundown. Surrounded by young birch and old fallen trees it nestles to one side of the femous M-u. Creek -a beautifully peaceful spot indeed - or was - until we came. Anyway the fire was lit, the billy boiled and then bags out and asleep, so our Christmes holiday began. We cannot boast of the strenuous time we had, but though it was, or because it Was, a lazy trip we thoroughly enjoyed oursleves. "Blucky' and I made friends with a prospector's wife who Was thrilled to see us and we formed the habit of dropping in for afternoon tea of Christmas cake, etc. She almost talked me into throwing over my wild ways and joining her. (No fighting down there Ellen. - Ed.) Our days were made up of sunbathing, fishing, and strolling round the valley with the boys all taking to the hills at different times in search of game a oh yes, "Blucky" and I did go once but the least said about that the better - suffice it to say that we crept home about 5 a.m. much the worse for wear, having spent the night being eaten by mosquitos and then being almost drowned. The final episode was mislaying the track for a while as we were homewerd-bounds, Does anyone think the sandflies at Tauwharenikau are pests? Well, come down to Maud and meet our selection. Still we did have D.D.T and Dimp. One morning we all tried our hands at diggin' for gold. I can quite see how it becomes a driving urge. "For once you've panned the speckled sand And seen the bonny dust, Its peerless brightness blinds you like a spell There's nothing else you care about You go because you must, And feel that you could follow it to Hell. You'll follow it in solitude, You'll follow it in cold, You'll follow it in hunger and in pain, And when you're stiff and battered down Let someone whisper "gold" And you'ro lief to rise and follow it again."

Still, time for us was flying, and most of the boys led by Den, left early one morning to meet Laurie and his party at Rotoroa. With their return came the mosquitos which then vied with the sandflies for our favours. By this time we had got almost used to the sandflies but we didn't welcome the "mossies." Laurie and Co.left for Rotoiti on the Saturday morning while we waited until Monday before we said farewell to the valley we had come to call our owno It was raining as we left to climb over the Naggie hill and thence over the paddocks to the six mile road walk to Rotoitio And so the Lake and all the rest of the gang again. It was early to bed that night as we were all a little tired. The other two parties left early the next morning, while we had the camp site to ourselves, including our section of Lake Rotoiti, one of the loveliest and coldest lakes I have known. Almost before we knew it, it was time to return to Wellington and work. We were all rether sorry to. have to go, although the weather had really broken by this time. I think that everyone enjoyed their holiday with all the odd happenings. Ask any of the party if they like toast for instance, and Colin methinks he knows by now one can't make porridge with flour. What about a few greengooseberries Keith? We all found out lots of odd things about one another - some people talk in their sleep, some simply try to kick everyone outside, others just snore. E.S.