MAILMEN'S BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 10

MAILMEN'S BATTLE.

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS. STRUGGLING THROUGH BOGS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) BRISBANE, February 1. Passengers, on the aeroplane route from Brisbane to Darwin report the struggles of a team of 20 pack horses, carrying the long overdue overland mail through badly Hooded country south of Daly Water*! Observers on 'the 'planes have seen the team battling through a miniature sea about 40 miles soutii of Dalv.

A passenger on the ■plane. Mr. W. H. Davics, travelled with one section of the mail from Xewcastle Waters to Daly Waters. The mailman, he said, had been ploughing on through torrential rain for weeks, being periodically bogged and covering only HI or 12" miles a day. After leaving Xewcastlc Waters the lirk section of the mail encountered a lomile stretch of water, the negotiation of which taxed the ingenuity of the party. A huge punt was constructed with canviu covers and mail bags. Suitcases were placed inside anil strapped over with sursingles and ropes. Pack horses were swum through the deep sections where a strong current was flowing, and the party of six men pushed -the punt across the current swimming alongside. A member of the party who could not .swim sat on top.

Newcastle Waters Creek was running a banker, and the mail contractor was compelled to swim the swollen stream with a rope in his teetb, dragging a rough punt, the other men swimming and" pushing behind. Ultimately it was landed several miles down the stream. Xot one bag was affected by water.