UNKNOWN

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue I, 6 September 1878, Page 2

UNKNOWN

Tho frightful weather experienced during jestevclay along ths coast has caused the rivers to be swolrsn, and the Otaki es~ p3oi-.illy has been in a stato of high flood* Tho Wednesday's coaoh did not reach Foxton till Thursday evenrig ; whilst the coach clue en Thursday missed the train by .about three hours. George Pugsley reports having started from Foxton yesterday morning, and reached Otaki about 8 o'clock ; but finding the flat covered with water and the river flooded, was unabl o to cross. Otto, the driver from the other end> finding Pugsley was detained, hastened on and reached the south bnnk of the river about 12.30. Crossing the coaches was, of course, out of the question, and the ferry boat was brought into use. Four passengers entered the boat, amongst them the Hon. Wm. Fox, but directy she got into the mail current, the boat was whirled round three times. Seeing the danger, two of the men sprang out of the boat and held it, and after dragging it a short distance returned to the shore. Pugsley drove as far into the water as poesib'.e, but was compelled to return to Otaki. At 8 o'clock this morning, finding the lower ferry unworkable, the upper ferry was tried about 1J miles inland. Here, however, although a Maori is paid £20 a year, there was no boat, and the coaches were compelled to go over a mile further up, when Pugsley crossed to the opposite bank, and proceeded about half a mile down, having to pack the passengers and mails over the gap between his coach and the other one. After thi3 had been accomplished, Otto started back to town, nnd Pugsley crossed the river, waiting at Otaki until one o'clook, when he prooeeded | on his journey, arriving as mentioned above, after some really first-class driving [ and a lot of plucky endurance.