LORRY STUCK IN RIVER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 4, 28 September 1937, Page 4

LORRY STUCK IN RIVER

QuickIy*Rising Waters InvaHe Cab HAZARDOUS TASK While attempting to ford the Tutae* kuri river at the Mangatutu croSsing two or three days ago, a new motor truck, the property bf Tom Brown, Ltd., general carriers, of* Hastings,, got into diffieulties, and it was only by clever handling that serious trouble was averted. The only means of aeeess to Mangatutu Station is by fording the river. Effprts wero being made to take in a truek-load of nxerehandise. The riska attendant upon such an undertaking were well lmown, and every care was taken to ensure a safe crossing. Mr. Brown and another man who was with him, first waded the river, and were quite satisfied that with care it 'could be forded, A team of horses from the station was on the scene to give aasistance if neeessary. The task of fording the river then began, but the truck had got only half-way across when it got stuck and could not he moved. To add to the difficulty of the position, the river began to rise extrqmely fast, due to the snow on the high country coming down, The rising water quickly invaded the cab, and in a very short time had swamped the load of goods on the truck, Efforts were then made to uncouple thp hauling ehain from the front of the truck. To 'do this Mr. Brown 'a assistant was in water up to his aTmpits, and a rope had to be tied arouud him to prevent him from being gwept. down stream, the current having become exceedingly swift and dangerous, The team of horses was then brought into use, and after a heavy pull sucqeeded in hauling the stranded truck out of the stream. , The whole load had to be taken off and much of it was damaged throngh water. The truck had to be towed back to Hastings and dismantled OTting to water having got into the powerunit. The incident illustrates the difficulty involved in transport to a baek-couu-try station without bridge aecess. The carriers have in their store 40 tons of goods waiting to be carted to Mangatutu Station. Ropresentations have been made to the Hawke's Bay County Council to provide accoss fqr Mangatutu Station by erectiug a low-level bridge over the Mangatutu river' just about its junetion with tbe Tutaekuri river. This would provide an outlet tQ Waldon's road through Waihau. The work has been estimated to cost between £400 and £500, aud when erected the bridg® would remove a great difficulty.