WAGGON OVERTURNED

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 3

WAGGON OVERTURNED

TRAFFIC HELD UP FOR HALF' AN HOUR, CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 23. The intersection of Colombo and Brougham streets, Sydenham, might have been mistaken for a farm yard when on .Saturday evening shortly after seven o’clock a big waggon loaded high with hay overturned and its load spread over th'e road in a huge stack stopping all traffic for half aai hour. The accident happened when the dray, driven by Air Cameron, was turning from Colombo Street into.* 33rou‘gham Street. The horse slipped on a grating let into the road and fell. The shafts broke, and ’ the waggon turned on its side. Mr Cameron luckily fell on the hay and was uninjured. The horse, still ' tangled in its harness, was buried under the load. It began to struggle and might have damaged * itself but a bystander crawled under the hay and held its head until it was freed. BIG CROWD COLLECTS. In the meantime a big crowd had collected on the scene. Two trams coming from the hills Were held 1 tip/ whilst another, from the city, Whs blocked on the other side.’ For a time a string of other traffic was held up, but eventually it found an outlet along Brougham Street. . How-to clear-the obstruction expedU tiously was a problem, but there were plenty of helpers offering.’"A gang of men got to work on the dray and with the aid of a rope, tied to tlie“ top rail, righted it and dragged it to -the side of the road out of the way. The load of hay remained, and it seemed as if it Would have to be removed in armloads, when a tramway repair truck, arrived on the scene. A rope was taken round the 'foot of the stack and attached to the back of the truck. Slowly the truck pulled away and gradually the rope tightened round t . stack. The pile moved and was pulled clear of Colombo Street into BrougV ham Street. The remaining hay was quickly cleared and the traffic jam released. Three trams were waiting on the hills side, and a relief, tram had just arrived on the city side when the road was cleared. The waggoner had some difficulty in getting away his load of hay and was still at work at 9.30. o’clock.