TRAFFIC DELAYED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20000, 27 July 1939, Page 6

TRAFFIC DELAYED

SOUTHBOUND CARS TRIP OVER WHARERATAS CONVOY SYSTEM ADOPTED THREE HOURS TO MORERE FREQUENT STOPS MADE (Special to tlio Herald.) MORERE. this day. Extreme difficulties were experienced by cars travelling over the Wharerata and Morere hills this morning, and the service car which left Gisborne at 9 o'clock did not reach Morere until nearly noon.

The three-hours trip, which is usually accomplished in less than two hours, was very slow along the ridges, the greatest of care being taken to ensure safe travelling. Several stops were made to assist other cars out of water-tables, into which they had slid from the slippery surface.

Three cars and a truck made the journey together from Bartletts to Morere, the drivers deciding to adopt the convoy system to their mutual advantage. Snow was experienced right from Gisborne, and more than ordinary care had to be taken from the timeßhe .Vehicle commenced to make the ascent from Bartletts. Snow had drifted on .to the road to a depth ot fully lft in many places. Snow fell heavily all along the route to Morere. although it showed signs of easing Oil' and thawing about two-thirds of the way down Morere Hill. A remarkable feature of the blizzard on the higher levels was that the high gale was driving the snow in columns of spray ofi the leading edge of every ridge. The mantle of snow changed the whole conformation of the country in appearance, and the passengers are likely to remember this morning’s journey for the strange bcautiy as much as for its thrills.

The convoy in which the service car moved met only one vehicle travelling in the opposite direction between Morere and Bartletts. Many cars were parked at Morere awaiting an improvement in the conditions.