STRANDED MOTORISTS ON ROADS TO ARTHUR’S PASS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 10

STRANDED MOTORISTS ON ROADS TO ARTHUR’S PASS

Many holiday makers travelling between Christchurch and the West Coast by way of Arthur’s Pass are stranded at places along the road as a result of the heavy flooding after a fall of more than 13 inches of rain from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. yesterday.

A late model American car was caught in a water course near Arthur’s Pass on Thursday and the five occupants had a narrow escape from serious injury when the heavy flow of shingle constantly struck the car and made evacuation difficult. The occupants, who were travelling from Southland to the West Coast, are now at Arthur’s Pass. The car was completely submerged yesterday morning and is a complete wreck. The road by Lake Misery, just past Arthur’s Pass on the way to the West Coast, is under 10ft of water and the upper and lower twin bridges have been washed away. Nine motor-vehicles are stranded at Candy’s Bend where part of the road has been washed away. On the Christchurch side of Arthur’s Pass a number of motorists waiting to cross Helpins creek on Thursday evening were stranded when Helpins creek and Granny’s creek which they had crossed rose. An attempt to tow a car across the creek failed because of the strong current. A number of women and children have been taken across the railway bridge there to Arthur’s Pass Aid Vehicles Stranded Two vehicles that were used extensively on Thursday to aid stranded persons are now stranded also. The ranger at Arthur’s Pass (Mr R. Cleland) was stranded in his utility vehicle about one mile and a quarter from Arthur’s Pass at

7.30 p.m. on Thursday. He is now at Arthur’s Pass helping to direct operations but reports that they are handicapped by lack of a suitable vehicle.

Mr Cleland said in a telephone call to “The Press” yesterday that he estimated it would be about a fortnight before the railway or road would be usable. Between Cass and Bealey at Paddy’s Bena, two chains of road has been washed away. He estimated it would take a number of days for the Ministry of Works to repair this section of the road. At Arthur’s Pass the main concern is the damaged stop bank which could endanger the town. The repair work is hampered by lack of equipment. On Thursday night the footbridge leading across from Arthur’s Pass to the track to the Punch Bowl falls , was completely washed away. This bridge was normally 10ft above the water and it would have required 12ft to 14ft of water to push it away, said Mr Cleland. Embankment The railway embankment running to the West Coast entrance of the Otira tunnel has been washed away leaving about 40ft of railway line in mid-air. One pile of the Waimakariri river bridge between Cass and Bealey has been washed away. Many motorists were stranded at the Bealey Hotel on Thursday night and yesterday morning. The hotel was completely booked out and many persons had to sleep on the floor. The only way to get from the hotel- to Arthur’s Pass was by walking along the seven miles of railway track. Hostels at Arthur’s Pass were full when many trampers returned during the torrential rain on Thursday evening. Accommodation at motels and cottages there is becoming short. Almost no rain fell at Arthur’s Pass yesterday afternoon and only five points of rain were recorded between noon and 10 p.m. Conditions at the Pass at 10 p.m. were described as bright and starry with almost frost temperatures. The wind was tending to southerly. _