Waipoua Forest Inspection Trip

Northland Age, Volume XVI, Issue 16, 22 November 1946, Page 3

Waipoua Forest Inspection Trip

An exceptionally heavy sale accompanied by torrential rain and lightning was encountered by the Kaiiaia delegates after they set out to join the inspection party at the Waipoua Forest station. The party, Mr. Ross Michie (of the Kaitaia Forest and Bird Protection Society), Mr. E. T. Frost (Northland Representative of the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society), together with Mrs. Michie, Miss Mavis Michie and Mr. Len Pettit, set out from Kaitaia at 5 o’clock last Thursday morning with high hopes of reaching thei, 1 ' destination at 9.30 a.m., via Broadwood and the Rawene harbour crossing. A slight delay caused them to miss the ferry at 7.30 a.m., and as it was then raining heavily they decided to go on to Kohukohu and ascertain if the southern delegates wei 1 going to make the journey. Being told that the party had already set out from Dargaville, and having word that the ferry punt was at the landing, it was decided to continue the journey. It was calm when the car was run. on to the punt, but on clearing the shelter of the high land a violent gale was encountered, and the punt was more like a half-tide rock than anything else, the high seas sweeping right over it. Little headway could be made, and another launch put out from Rawene to assist, and between them the passage was made under difficulties. The car, having taken a good soaking, would not budge and was towed up the ramp by a cream lorry. After drying out plugs and cables, the engine responded, and as the rain had ceased for the time being the journey was continued. No further difficulties were encountered, and the Forest Station was reached at 12.30, only to find that none of the southern party had arrived. Word had been received that they were marooned in the Kaihu Valley, where the flood waters were out, covering the roads to an unnegotiable depth. The officer in charge said that it was the heaviest recorded rainfall since 1935 at the station. Over one and threequarters of an inch fell in an hour, and at 10 a.m. three inches had fallen since midnight. N 0 time was lost in turning round, as there was likelihood of slips on a road near the station. A look was taken at the big tree on the way out, and some features

of the working out of trees near the road noted. The Waimamaku Valley was a sea of water, but the roads were clear. The ferryman had stated in the morning that it would be impossible to cross again that day, so the return journey was made via Taheke and Horcke to the main road at Rangiahua. The floods were out at Taheke, and a section of road was inundated, but as a truck was met emerging from ! it our driver concluded it was safe, and we plunged into it and crossed safely. It seemed that our troubles were over by then, but Nemesis was stalking us in the shape of a roadhog, which caused us to ditch the car near Hcreke, right down to the axles in soft slush. Our imperturbable driver viewed it philosophically, saying i. might be worse if we were on a beach with the tide coming in. However a good Samaritan was in I the offing just round the corner, where Len had gone with our tale J of woe but returned with a smiling face healing the news that a tractor was coming. Soon we heard the sound [ of the exhaust, and round the corner 1 lumbered a big Caterpillar tractor—- ! and the job was as good as done. Out on to the main road we sped, arriving at the Mangamuka Gorge at | dusk, and it was soon seen that we | were in for it again. The higher ,ve ascended the denser the clouds became. and we hardly realised that we were at the top. Descending at wheelbarrow pace down the northern j side the valley was reached, and it j was not long before the welcome lights of Kaitaia loomed into view at 9 p.m.—eight hours after leaving i Waipoua, having the satisfaction of knowing that the northern delegates j were the only ones who made it.

Te Puhi W.I.

The November meeting of the Womens’ Institute was held in the hall, there being a good attendance of members. Mrs. A. Tracey presided and welcomed Oruru-Peria Institute members and also visitors from Auckland and- Victoria Valley. After the business was dealt with, the hostesses, Mesdames T. King, A. White, R. White and F. Tracey, served a delightful lunch. The lucky dip was won by Mrs. Barriball with Mrs. llancox second and Mrs. W. Kitchen third. Competitions for the month were : Flowers arranged in baking powder

tin, judged on front view only—Mesdames A. Tracey, A. White and F. Tracey equal first, Mesdames D. Tracey and J. Brockbank second ; Crochet D’Oyleys Mesdames A. White, A. Edwards first, Mrs. E. Buckingham second ; Worked D’Oyley—Mrs. R. White fust, Mrs. W. Dawson second. The afternoon was spent in games and competitions, the winners being Mesdames Cochrane, Dawson and Brockbank, and Misses A. Edwards and J. Noble. The hoop game was won by the Te Puhi ladies. Afternoon tea was then served and the enjoyable meeting closed with the singing of the N.Z. Anthem.