MAROONED A WEEK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20009, 7 August 1939, Page 3

MAROONED A WEEK

CHRISTCHURCH MEN HANKS PENINSULA SNOW CALI SALVAGE DELAYED To be marooned on Banks Peninsula during the recent snowstorms for seven days was the experience of two Christchurch men, Mr. J. Small, a mechanic, and Mr. J. Richardson, an apprentice, employed by a motor importing firm. Setting out from Christchurch in fine weather on Monday, July 24, in the firm's breakdown truck to salvage a car which had gone over a 30ft slope at Robinson's Bay the previous day, Messrs. Small and Richardson anticipated that they would be back again in the city that evening. Story of Expcriemes Their experiences after arriving at Robinson’s Bay were related by Mr. Small, who .said: “We started work on pulling the car up the slope about 1 p.m., but soon afterward snow and sleet began to fall, and because of the slippery nature of the clay and the weather we were only able to pull the car half-way up the slope by nightfall. “Knowing that it would not be .possible to do any more work until the next day, we went to Akaroa for the night, returning to the scene again in the morning, when there was about 4in of snow lying about. We worked unti] mid-day, when we found that because of the conditions and the depth of the sno'w it was impossible to do anything else in the meantime.

‘‘The snow by that time was about 9in deep, and so we Imd no option but to trudge the three and a-half miles to Akaroa. It was not until the Friday that we were able to make another attempt at salvaging the car, and on this occasion we were able to pull it up to the road. Return Journey ‘‘However, reports we received showed Hint it would not be practicfible to got back to Christchurch until the main road was reopened. “We were advised that it might be possible to get through last Sunday. Chains were fastened to the wheels of the breakdown truck and the damaged car, and we set out at 8 a.m. on Sunday on our return journey. Tiie trip from Barry’s Bay to the Hilltop took about eight hours, it being found necessary to stop on numerous occasions to shovel the snow oh the car tracks. Our journey ended at 11.3-0 that night, when we finally reached Christchurch after a 15-hour trip from Robinson’s Bov."