A TRANSPORTATION FEAT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 112, 15 May 1906, Page 3

A TRANSPORTATION FEAT.

An interesting experiment in transportation between Christchurch and Blenheim overland was concluded on Saturday evening at seven o'clock, when Mr William Litchfield arrived in town after traversing that route with two traction engines, three Duncan waggons, and a chaff-cutter. Mr Litchfield and a party of four set out from Christchurch a fortnight ago yesterday, iii. the afternoon, and accomplished the journey with complete success, the engines and accompanying machinery being as free from damage at the end as when they started. The route taken was via Culverden, and Kaikoura, Flabourne and Seddon. On the whole, favourable weather was experienced, though snow was encountered at Wandell (this side of the Waiau) and light rain along the coast. The condition of the? roads ranged from extremely bad to very good. The roughest part of the route was*a stretch of about 25 miles from Clarence to the Ure, which was disgraceful. At the White Slip the road was particularly bad. The Mason River, which had to be crossed twenty times, gave a lot of trouble, the engines having to be used alternately to pull each other out of difficulties; and the party had an exciting experience at the Waipara River, which was in flood. The water put the fires out, and the stream had to be diverted by means of sandbags. The bridges between the Uro and Kekerangu were very frail, and some half a dozen had to be stayed and planked to enable the engines to cross. The party had been warned by the Awatere Road Board that they would use the bridges at their own risk. However, the passage was engineered without any mishap. Through Flaxbourne, Seddon, and on to Blenheim the road was excellent. This is the first occasion on which a traction engine has \vec.n brought right through from Ghristchurch, and many exports predicted failure. Mr Litchfield says that the chief requirements for the journey are patience and perseverance. "In summer time, when the weather is dry," he said, ((there should be no trouble at all—barring the weak bridges, of course." This metnod of transportation is cheaper., than shipment by steamer.

The party met His Excellency the Governor at the Mason River, on his way to Christchurch from Blenheim.

'Mr Litchfield, who is a practical farmer, was much impressed with the suitability of the country between Christchurch and Blenheim for closjer settlement. He had no idea that the South Island Trunk Railway would traverse such fine country.

One of the traction engines, with chaff-cutter, was brought for Mi1 Higgins, of Seddon. The other, with the Duncan waggons, was brought up to the older of Messrs Hewitt-son and Parker, for the conveyance of timber from Robertson's mill, in the Rai Valley, to Havelock.