Perilous Journey from Wellington.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 239, 5 September 1884, Page 2

Perilous Journey from Wellington.

(Herald.) A gentleman vrho had occasion to travel overland from Wellington this week has g : .ven ns a few particulars of what must lie regarded as an eventful journey. Leaving Wellington at the" usual houv on Tuesday morning they encountered nothing veiy serious iill the Faikakaiiki hill was reached, here, the wind was blowing "big gwns," and it was with extreme difficulty that the horses could be induced to proceed, the wind 'being' so strong that they were almost driven off their feet. The ascent finished m tin»<v the descent was negotiated, and here again the horses proved refractory, the -wind blew them back, and at several places the horses turned round and refused to move. When the hill had been safely descended, it was hoped that the remainder of the road would be easier. The beach road to Waikanae however was found to be almost impassable, and the horses plunged through the surf for several miles, being completely knocked up when they reached Waikanae. The horse i were changed there, and a fresh start was made, the river being negotiated, safely by the aid of. Maqries. Mr Field of Waikanae also rendered all the assistance m his power. The beach from there* was not "so /heavy, though a very heavy surf was beating on the shore all the way. The next riytlr to' be crossed was the Otaki, and m crossing the i first bed of this one of the coach | wheels struck' against a log, and it | was only by the assistance of a Maori diver that things were righted. In the second part of the river it was found that the coach could not possibly be taken, across, and pas»en>£ers Were conveyed on the backs of natives to a canoe, m which, they were taken across the main part of the river; In •this journey .-. the canoe was nearly tilled with water, and recourse had to; be taken to hats to bail it out. Had the bank been 20 yards further off,\ the whole occupants would have had to swim for it. The coach horses were swam across the river, the coach itself being left there, and the next morning nothing was, to bo seen of it, so that it had been probably; swept to Sea. On reaching Otaki it was found that the passengers would have to stay over , night, the coach which ought to have reached Waikanae Jit eleven o'clock, having just reached Otaki at 3 p.m. A fresh 'start was made at six next morning, and on reaching the Ohau about nine, they found three passengers who had left Fox ton at two m the morning, and whom it had taken the Maoris from six till nine, to ferry across the river. The passengers coming north got over after a lot of difficulty, but the Maoris who set out with the mails m a canee had a terrible battle with the. current, being nearly driven out to sea before they could reach the other bank. The travellers reached Fox ton about 230 m the afternoon, and about five o'clock a further stage Was commenced by train as fajr as Oroua Downs. Here a boat was launched, and about eight passengers embarked on beard. The pull was anything but a pleasant five mile spin. The whole country seemed one evpanset of water, and m some places they found by poling that there were from twelve to fifteen feefcrof water. Parts of tb.e railway line were washed away, and bridges were m many places covered./ The current was very strong, and considerabl e danger was incurred from floating logs, sleepera, <fee., and as it was dark long before the journey was com* pleted, it was difficult to keep the direct course The boat left Oroua Bridge at 5.30, and reached Jackeytown, a distance of 5 miles, at 9.30. Several narrow; escapes from swamping are recorded. ; At one jpart of the journey where the wafr-iv got shallower, some got out, and by wading along with a line they helped to pull Ihe boat along. Reaching a very swift current, which was making towards a br{Uge and threateningf: to swamp the boat, those m front were requested to make an extra effort, and they did so, but unfortunately tho rope broke. Destruction seemed inevittibie, tout the boat struck against a log, and was immediately turned round, and thus saved from almost certain loss. All on board kept their seats, and by the aid of those m front who caught hold of the remainder of the rope, the boat was again started; The passengers landed about half a mile from Jack ey town, and shoulderinjj their luggage, they ' made v for the train which was waiting for them. Again • a fresh start .was made, and excepting that, the weary passengers had to change into another . train at Makino ('because of tlie insecurity of the bridge, over which they could ■ walk,. but the train could not safely venture on it), they reached Wanganui at 1.30 a.m. on Thursday, after one of the most eventful journeys ever made on this coavt.