CARS STRANDED BY WASH-OUT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30934, 15 December 1965, Page 27

CARS STRANDED BY WASH-OUT

(New Zealand Preet Association)

HASTINGS, December 13. A 50-yard shingle causeway leading to an island in the middle of the Tuki Tuki river at Undercliff, about six miles from Hastings, was washed away late on Saturday night—Heaving 25 people and 10 cars stranded.

Prefects and sixth formers from Hastings Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools had just finished an end-of-year barbecue on the island when one

of the party discovered the wash-out

The river, swollen by heavy rain in the upper reaches earlier on Saturday, had burst a dam and the water had swept the access causeway downstream.

The party drove cars to the Island across the causeway about 7 p.m., and about an hour and a half later, the dam burst The wash-out was not discovered until about 11 p.m.

after the barbecue. Some members of the party waded across and telephoned parents of the school pupils to come to their aid.

Five parents and cars went to the rescue and took the

whole party to their homes. Most of the boys and girls were home by 11.45. The party left 10 cars on the island, on high land which cannot be reached by the water. When the water level is lowered and the causeway can be replaced the ears will be removed, but this is not likely to be for some days.