TRANSPORT TO WAIROA

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1920, Page 3

TRANSPORT TO WAIROA

MISHAPS ON ROAD AND SEA

WAIROA, Dec 12.

The need for improvement in facilities for transport has been amply proved 'during the last two days. Early this morning Messrs Richardson and Co.’s boat, Te Aroha, loaded with frozen meat from the freezing works, en route for Napier roadstead, but after negotiating the bar she was caught by a big wave and washed up on the beach, where she is hard and fast outside the western side of the entrance. The shipping people hope to be able to get her off on this afternoon’s tide, .hut if she is not floated to-day the meat will be taken out and brought back to the works. To-night a light swell is running, but danger to the vessel is'not anticipated. The master, Captain Carpenter, is hopeful of floating the vessel off in a few hours with the assistance of the steamer

Tangaroa. Yesterday afternoon the Motor Company’s coach from Napier to Wairoa, went over a bank on top of a hill on the Waikari-Mohaka section of the road, near Willow Flat. The coach was badly smashed and. the horses knocked about ,but the driver escaped injury. There were no •passengers aboard at the time-of the accident. * f)ne of the horses became restive and kicked over The traco and disturbed the others, and the whole outfit rolled over the bank and down th o steep slope. There was a small mail aboard, but it was not damaged to any great extent. Further trouble was caused by a lorry, which crashed through the Moliaka bridge, causing a blockage of several hours on the Napier-Wairoa road. The bridge has since been repaired and traffic has now been resumed.

These three incidents have caused a great impression amongst Wairoa residents, who all realise the need to push on the Waikokopu harbour works and the East Coast railway. Later. The Te Aroha is still on the beach. The Koau and the Tangaroa were sent from Napier to assist in refloating the Te Aroha, hut the Tangaroa herself met with a mishap, being caught by a sea and washed over the bar into the river entrance. The’ vessel came in stern first, and unfortunately struck the eastern pier, stripping her railings at the stern, but apparently no other damage was done. The Koau is still standing by the vessel on the beach.