FORDING THE RAKAIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8831, 6 May 1914, Page 4

FORDING THE RAKAIA

A FORTUNATE ESCAPE,

The Lake Coleridge correspondent of the 'Tress describes an, adventure that '.'reminds one of old. times. .

On Sunday last nine men. all of whom are working on the power house, went in a dray with three horses to cross iho llakaia River for rabb'ii-shoot-/ing on the 3Joijnt Somers side. ' "VVheu > they got' to ilirc.socoucl stream .the leaders became frightened, at the depth and swiftness"'of ;>the"Avatcr, and turned down" hi roam. They got into deep wator anJ. tho dray capsized, throwing all tlie occupants into the stream. Fortunately they all landed safe but much, exhausted on the' homo side, except H. Doyle, who was carried down the stream, and he and the horses and dray landed none the worse, on st shingle pit half way across the stream,, where he bad to stay till another horseman went to his rescue by v finding a ford lower down for the dray and horses to be brought back. They all arrived back at Kisselton at noon wet and sad, minus their Runs and food and camping utensils. Later on in the afternoon some of tliein went out again to search lor tho things, but as the river was Ihen rising they had to return at dusk ttiiMimvfiil. They were very fortunate thai there was no onedrowned..