MOTORIST'S PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16473, 17 March 1919, Page 4

MOTORIST'S PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.

STUCK OX WEST COAST ROAD. SIXTEEN MILES WALK TO SPECS G FIELD. It is the practice of some motorists travelling from the "West Coast to Christchurch to have their cavs railed from Arthur's Pass station to Springfield station, in order to avoid the particularly rough road, in parti -it least, between those two points.. The failure of tho railway authorities to provide a waggon, duly ordered, on Thursday led to a party of Pieton motorists undergoing a most unpleasant experience. The party consisted of Mr and Mrs G. J. Riddell and Mr G. A. Smith. Mr Riddell, who supplied a representative of "Tho Press" with the details of the misadventures which befell the party, is a well-known public man, having been Mayor of Picton and being now a member of local bodies in that • district.

Prior to leaving Greymouth on Thursday Mr Riddcll, through his business agent in that town, Mr J. K. Jeffries, communicated with the railwav authorities- at Christchurch and asked them to . provide a, TJ waggon at Arthur's Pass station to take his motor-car to Springfield; very tiaturally he expected that when the party arrived at Arthur's Pass the waggon would he available. Mr Smith made enquiries regarding the waggon when the party arrived at Arthur's Pass, ancr was astounded to learn from the official approached that he did not think it was on the train. There was not much comfort got out of the reply to his emery as to what thev were to do if it did not arrive: "You will have to either push or pull your car!" The train du\v arrived, hut there was no waggon I When informed that there was no place at Arthur's Pass where they could stop for the night, they decided to go on to Springfield i by road They were informed that 1 *as good, and that the onlv i nimcujtv of oonsequence was the cross,H - °*. Bcalev river. Sure enough

thoy got stuck in the Bealey but tho car' was eventually pulled out. Afterwards they found other difficulties in the shape of rough roads and mars, but tho crowning mishap was the jamming of tho gears. There was no mechanic with the party, and Mr Riddell set off to try to find some slieltei. After a fruitless walk of four miles M returned to the car, having seen iio . signs of human habitations. JJiey were about sixteen miles from Springfield, and as they had nothing to eat since 1 n.m. at Arthur's Pass there was a decidedly keen edge on their apposes. Mr and Mrs Riddell decided to start out for Springfield despite the fact, that it was now about 1 a.m., and they had no knowledge of the /road: Mr Smith, who is lame, had remain in the car. Sir Kiddell did not go into details regarding the experiences of Mrs Jtiddell and himself during the eight hours they took to roach Springfield; but those who know the character of the road can easily imagine that they must have had a terrible time making their way in the cold and dark over a road unknown to them which crosscs several unbridged mountain streams. Arrived at Springfield, Mr Riddell got the telephone to work and got into communication with tho station nearest to the vicinity where j the car with Mr Smith in it was left. . and relief was sent to him. Mr lvid-, dell then telephoned to a Christchurch garage for an expert chauffeur, who went out and brought the car to Springfield. After their trying experiences the party, rested at Springfield on Friday; as a matter of fact both Mr and Mrs Riddell were so exhausted that they were unable to walk nn Friday: the party reached Christchurch about noon on Saturday. Eater in the dav Mr Riddell saw the railway authorities at Christchurch, and they apologised to him for the failure to provide the waggon. The railway authorities were communicated with by the reporter on the subject, aDd explained how the wagyon failed to rcach Arthur's Pass. The older was duly received, and tho waggon was attached to a goods train fraing to Springfield, the instructions being that it was to ho shunted at Darfield and to be coupled on to t/io Arthur's Pass express when it reached barfield. The porter at Darfield, under the mistaken impression t.iat tho goods train was going to Arthur s Pass, did not detach the waggon whlen, consequently, went .on to, but no further than Springfield. The mistake, it was admitted, was most regrettable. Mr Riddell, in giving the details to the reporter, said that he did so in order that motorists, proposing to adopt a similar procedure, should be warned of the risks they were running. He mentioned tfcat lie knew of a motoring party on their way over the ranges on Saturdav, included in which were two young children. After tho experience of his own party, ho did not like to contemplate the possibility of Saturday's party going through anything like what he and his party ha<] gone through.