STUCK IN CLAY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 8

STUCK IN CLAY

MIMI JUNCTION TRAP When his motor-car stuck in a bog-hole on the old New Plymouth-Te Kuiti main highway about a chain north of where the new deviation strikes off, a New Plymouth motorist bound for Pukearuhe had nothing but praise for the manner in which the neighbouring settlers came to his aid. Last time he passed there the old road was blocked and all traffic was compelled to take the new deviation, turning off to the left a chain or two along to join up with the Pukearuhe highway. This time the road was open and he went right ahead. not far, however, _ as some clay that had been used for filling opposite Mr. Allen's gate had become boggy from the recent rain. Though some distance underneath there was a solid bottom, the car once in the clay refused to biidge, the wheels merely revolving to dig themselves in deeper. After the car had been bogged for a few minutes Mr. R. Allen, whose gateway, has been made almost impassable by the filling, hnd Mr. Hutchen, an employee of the Public Works Department, came along and with valuable assistance, the boggy patch was negotiated. It was stated that several cars and one or two waggons had previously struck trouble at the same place, one waggon being held up for a couple of hours. There is a heap of gravel nearby which. no doubt will be used when the filling has consolidated but until such time the old road should be closecl to prevent other motorists falling into the trap, the New Plymouth man considers.