TOLL CIRCUITS INTERRUPTED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29060, 24 November 1959, Page 17

TOLL CIRCUITS INTERRUPTED

Car Strikes Pole At Kaiapoi

Normal toll circuits to North Canterbury and the North Island were interrupted for a period on Sunday as the result of a telephone pole being sheered off at ground level when it was struck by a car outside the Kaikanui Hotel, Kaiapoi, at 4.10 a.m. on Sunday. The’ driver of the car, Hugh Saville Brown of Waiau, was fortunate to escape with a cut on his forehead and abrasions, as the pole crashed down on top of the car, which was severely damaged. Dr. C. F. McKee attended Brown, who after having three stitches inserted, was accommodated at the Kaikanui Hotel for the remainder of the night, returning to his home later in the day.

One of the cross-arms wrenched from the pole at the time of impact was left suspended by one or two wires which, surprisingly, remained unbroken. Normal toll traffic was restored by about midday and in the meantime calls to the North Island were routed through the West Coast. North Canterbury residents were stll provided with a direct, although somewhat delayed service, to Christchurch. This was possible as some of the lines to Christchurch are laid underground.