EXCITING ADVENTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1918, Page 5

EXCITING ADVENTURE.

IN A HIMUTAKA BLIZZARD. Messrs. P. P. Chaplin and B. Byrne, of New Plymouth, arrived in Wellington on Wednesday, after touring in a Hudson from New Plymouth, via the Wairarapa, and over the Rimutakas, during the recent snowstorm. At 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday they encountered the full blast of the blizzard when at the three-mile peg, on the Featherston side of the Rimutakas, and the tempest increased till they reached the summit. The car occupied two hours in covering that stage of the journey, having been snowbound twice. At times the vehicle sank to the running boards, and was completely held up. The gale howled like an Antarctic storm, and threatened to lift the car over the precipice. ■ Both motorists had a critical experience, and were glad when they reached the summit, where they met Roadman Jones, who was camping in the shed there. He kindly supplied them with warm drinks, which revived their half-numbed bodies. The snow was four feet deep there, and had it not been for Mr,. Joneß's assistance in digging the snow away the car would have been immovable. On the Tun down the Wellington side the conditions gradually improved, but the snow lasted almost to Kaitoke, At "Windy Point" the car was unable t'ijj; face the gale,'and as there > was danger if it being overturned, the 1 motorists layered the hood. . Tlie lowest gear w$ put in to keep the engine from "stall)jig"' and the car got safely through, .