MAROONED IN AHUROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 7

MAROONED IN AHUROA.

Sir,—The floods which have recenEly subsided around Aburoa were as nothing : compared to the flood of wrath and indignation - which now surges in the hearts of the settlers hereabouts. T~.o present inundation was, caused by the Hep-aid's account of the sufferings and privations endured by the lew travellers who were marooned here lor two- days during the height of the -deluge. While I am loth to belittle the achievements of anyone who hazards a journey on (he Kaipara railway, I must say ihat_thesc travellers ' seem to have been enaoweu with, \ particularly; vivid I imaginations. In their report to the Hjuuuj's representative, they stated ; that they had, been obliged to sleep in railway carriages, and to appeases their gnawing,hunger byv the simple,': if somewhat unsatisfactory, r expedient of " tightening the* belts." Such statements would invoke the sympathy of the most : pitiless if true to facte. In reality however the seven gentlemen were accommodated at the house . of a' "grass widower" and* their material needs were attended to by the, train porter, an excook, who conjured' up such delicacies as fried flounder, roast chicken audi apple I pie. , The, ladies, were even more. ; fortui nate. They were befriended by a railwayman whose v, wife enjoys ? th« reputation of being r a past mistress in the culinary v art. i ■:'-:, Cliroaticelly, 'of course, the conditions were .-..• cacugh to."; damp .'* the spirits of the most sanguine. No doubt the travellers themselves, who, I ,: - hope, are comfortably settled t down once more in their own homes and have had time to reflect, will, agree that tins correction is justified... , •> - * C.R.G.