A DANGEROUS TRIP.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 275, 16 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DANGEROUS TRIP.

The following is account of the gale Hanmer, which Mr Wells alluded to in hi< address at the Farmers' Club last wook : " During iho recent torth-wrst gilc a rather rxeitiu: experience befell Mr T. N. Horsky, M iyor of Lin.vood, and party, while driving to llantner Plains. Mr Horslcy started from homo on Thursday morning with Mrs Horslcy and Miss Billington, a young lady from Auckland, all anticipating a pleasant trip. A strong North-west gale was blowing, but they reached Culverden in safety the same night. On Friday the gale had greatly increased in violence, but the partly made a start f"r the [Mains at about 8 a.m. It was on this day that the coach failed to get through and it was freely prophesied at Culverden that. Mr HoHoy would find himself compelled to return before he had beeu away an hour. He had a good pair of horses, however, and they bravely faced tho gale. When the travellers were about, half way through tho YVaiau Gorge they were suddenly struck by a most terrific gale of wind, accompanied by a blinding shower of dust and shingle. The horses and buggy were as nearly as possible blown over, and for a few moments the occupants were unablo to see what had happened. It wis then found that tho buggy was blown round, and the horses, which for a time were unmanageable, were facing it. Mr Horsley next led the horses along tho gorge, the wind blowing all the time with hurricane force. In about u quarter of an hour they reached an overhanging rock, where they all took shelter. For eight hours they remained here quite unable to move, but at five o'clock the storm moderated a little, and they got under way again, finally reaching Jolly Bass at about seven o'clock. INeedleas to say they were objects of some interest after accomplishing such an adventurous journey. Residents on the plains state that the gale was the hardest they over experienced-exceeding in force that which blew down the Church somo years ago. Mr Horsley informs us that the chimney at the Sanatorium was a eurious sight, having been snapped clean off where it met the iron roof. The severed portion was lying on the roof quite intact, showing that it must have been well built.