ACCIDENT TO THE UPPER FERRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1721, 27 June 1884, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO THE UPPER FERRY.

I THE PUNT SWEPT AWAY.

: (From tlio Wc>odville Examiner.) j Some excitement was - caused on Wed« nesday by a report that the, punt in use at the Upper-Ferry had been swept away. On enquiry we found the facta to be as follows ;-tA'flock of: sheep;which passed through Woodvillo in the .morning were being ferried across in portions, A<number of sheep had been taken ccroas, 'and Mr Career-had the punt under way, with a ficßh lot. Several men wero also on board, and shortly after: the punt waa swung into the' stream the beam which props the front lap slipped from the ring and tho lap falling - under- water the terrifio force of the current bore it down at one side.. By the enormous pressure thus brought to bear the wire rope on which the punt ivorka. snapped-, in twaiErand the punt started 'down thei'stream at the rate of knots. Most of the men on board jumped into a boat attached to the punt, and Mr Carver freeing the rope they made for the Bhore. Mr Carver and his 3011 were thus left on the punt, and both jumped into' the river and Bwain ashore. Meantime the punt, in swinging down the stream, canoned against the temporary bridge structure erected by Mr McKenzie. The'punt'then sunk down at one end, several of the sheep being thrown off and drowned. , Down the rapids the punt then bliog at the rate of about eight or nine miles an hour. Meantime Mr Carver and his son had procured a canoe and went, after the punt, securing it to tho bank about a : mile down'the river. The sheep wore then safely landed, Trafio waa consequently impeded, The wiro rope seems to have undergone a ironiondous strain.' bb the strands are thoroughly slackened, ilt is but a short time ago since a similar accident occurred, These mishaps aro a very 'serious matter to the district, prohibiting'traffic and causing. great, inconyenienoßj and if ever the necessity of having the bridge work pushed on it is now. To Mr Macara, the coach proprietor, especially will this cessation of trafflo prove a lo6S,;passengers travelling by other routes,' although he has done his utmost to meet the.i circumstances, the passengers being conveyed over the fiver in boats. • ■•'.. •' The accident occurred on the last night of Mr Carver's tenure, Mr Chapman taking possession next day ( A larfje quai tl'ty of stock is also now on this Bide of the river waiting transport'.' The officers of the Wairarapa and Waipawa County Councils should combine to have the wire replaced at once- A new rope will probably be needed stronger hantheone lately in: uae.i-;lri\any case iteps should be taken to' havo trafflo immediately resumed. .'