TRUCK OVERTURNED IN SAND

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30497, 20 July 1964, Page 3

TRUCK OVERTURNED IN SAND

, (N Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. July 19. Two children were injured and seven other people escaped unhurt when a truck overturned in soft sand on Muriwai Beach this afternoon. The injured are:— Roimata Broughton, aged 8, daughter of Mr and Mrs B. J. Broughton, of Northcote. Teddy Matangi, aged 8. son of Mr and Mrs T. Matangi,

of Northcote. who broke an arm. Both children were admitted to North Shore hospital for observation. A utility vehicle righted the truck. Soon after low tide, about 12.30 p.m., fisheries inspectors at the beach began warning motorists of the dangers of getting stuck. At each digging along the first 10 miles, car after car was stuck in the sand. “The tide came in so quickly.” said one unfortunate toheroa hunter after trying in vain to push his car out of the sand. “We were digging away one moment and waves were

swirling around our car the< next.” This car was lifted clear by 12 other drivers who took turns in pushing out their cars. When they had finished they were spattered from head to foot with mud flung up by the wheels. Toheroa hunters at the week-end were hard put to find their individual quotas of 20 legal-sized shell fish. A number of people on both days left the beach with less than their quota, according to inspectors. “The pickings are very poor,” said one. “There are a lot of toheroas about, but

they are all small ones and cannot be taken. “I personally haven’t seen a toheroa over four inches long this week-end. The great majority of the ones taken have been just on three inches long.” He said that out of every 12 toheroas dug up only one. on the average, was big enough to be taken. In spite of the apparent shortage, inspectors reported several cases of people exceeding the personal limit, including one man who took more than 300 undersized toheroas. Prosecutions are pending.