MINISTER'S ADVENTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 14

MINISTER'S ADVENTURE

GAR MISSES BRIDGE.

PLUNGE INTO THE FLOOD.

A FORTUNATE ESCAPE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J NELSON, Tuesday.

The Minister of Education, Hon. H. Atmore, accompanied by three others including his private secretary, left Nelson yesterday morning en route for the west coast, but was forced to return after a chapter of accidents which ended with the car being almost submerged in a flooded stream a short distance on the .Nelson side of the Belgrove Hotel. The fact that the car did not overturn probably saved some of the occupants from being drowned. The heavy rainfall had brought about floods in all the streams en route, and when the Minister's car reached the Belgrove Hotel ho was informed that the road was impassable. The party proceeded a little further, however, to speak to Mr. Thornton, Secretary of the Nelson Education Board, who had gone ahead. On his way back the Minister called at the hotel to thank the proprietress for Having warned him, but when the party entered the car once more and attempted to move off it was found that one of the front wheels had sunk through the road into a culvert. After considerable difficulty the car was got out. The creek, about 50 yards down the main roaa in the direction of Nelson, is crossed by a splash bridge with no railings, and at that time the narrow structure was covered by water. Tho Minister's chauffeur, a Wellington driver, did not know that the bridge is not in alignment with the road, and .in consequence the car missed it and plunged into the stream The vehicle heeled over alarmingly until it seemed that it must capsize. However it did not go further, and the occupants, by now wet through, ior the car had filled with water, were able to scrar.ible through the door on tho high side. Typewriters, papers and luggage were all under water and soured through. The Minister and his party returned to the Belgrove Hotel where they were fitted out with dry garments, and word was at once sent through for a relief car. A Wakefield car set out, and after two or three delays on the road eventually arrived by a roundabout route. The traveller., and the luggage were put on the car, but on the way back the relief motor too became caught in the creeli. •It was eventually got out and proceeded to Wakefield. It was learned there that the road to Nelson was impassable because the flood had risen still further, and so the Minister and those with him decided to come in. by train. Fortunately they came through last night before the railway service was interrupted. STORMY WEATHER AT SEA. MANUKAU BAR UNWORKABLE. BAROMETER RISES STEADILY. Stormy weather continued on the West Coast yesterday and the Manukau Bar was again unworkable. The Northern Company's steamers Rarawa and Arapawa, which had been barbound since Monday evening, returned to Onehunga yesterday. Owing to the delay the Rarawa's trip to New Plymouth was canceiled. but she will leave Onehunga again, according to schedule, to-morrow afternoon. The Arapawa will resume her trip to Raglan and Kawhia to-day if the conditions are favourable.

The stormy conditions also delayed vessels at sea. The Union Company's motorship Hauraki, which was due at Auckland from Los Angeles yesterday afternoon, did not arrive until last evening. The steamer Baron Belhaven was _ due from Antwerp at ten o'clock last night, but a wireless report from the vessel stated she was being delayed by the storm and would not arrive before nine o'clock this morning. Tho boisterous south-westerly wind made the conditions wild in Auckland, and except for an occasional light shower the (lay was fine. The barometer, after falling to 29.10 in. on Monday evening, has been steadily rising since and the reading last night was 29.75 in.