LORRY IN CREEK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 6

LORRY IN CREEK

DROP FROM HILL ROAD DRIVER JUMPED CLEAR BLASTING BLOCKS ROUTE (Spucitil to thn Herald.) MATAWAI, this day. Having the presence of mind and opportunity to jump clear from his lorry as lie felt the back wheels slipping over the side of a hill road saved a Matawai carrier, Mr. G. R. Robb, from probable serious injuries yesterday afternoon. His lorry crashed down a steep bank into a creek bed 30ft. below the road level near Mr. C. Korte’s residence, four miles from Matawai on the Gisborne-Opotiki State highway. At the time of the mishap Mr. Robb was attempting to negotiate a slip on Traflord’s Hill, the blockage having been caused by blasting operations. He was returning to Matawai from Opotiki late yesterday afternoon, with a heavy load of petrol in drums. After inspecting the. slip that covered the road he decided that'there would be sufficient space for him to move carefully round the toe of the dry rock that formed the blockage. Mr. Robb made good progress for a time, but feit the back wheels slipping away and was able to jump clear just before the vehicle toppled over. Although the wheels of the upturned lorry are above water it was not possible this morning to estimate the damage to the vehicle as the cab and superstructure were resting on the rocky bottom of the comparatively shallow mountain stream. The drums of petrol appeared to be little affected. Blasting For Road Metal

Yesterday afternoon a gang employed by the Public Works Department was taking spoil from the site of the road on the hill to build up the highway in front of the Matawai Hotel. To bring down a small quantity of rock a charge of gelignite was used and about 60 cub. yds. of material came away to completely block the route. The gang immediately set to work to clear a track through the debris, but it was not expected that the highway would be available for traffic until a late hour this morning. The overnight mail from Auckland to Gisborne was delayed and was not expected to reach Gisborne until this afternoon. Service car passengers last evening were transhipped to cars on the opposite side of the blockage.