MOTORISTS' ORDEAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20465, 17 January 1930, Page 10

MOTORISTS' ORDEAL.

CAR BOGGED IN MUD. AN UNENVIABLE NIGHT. THAMES COUNTY OFFICIALS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES, Thursday. Stranded in a car bogged to the axles on the Whangamata Road, Messrs. ,H. Lowe, chairman, and J. Higgins, engineer, of the Thames County Council, had an unenviable experience last night. They had set out in the day to inspect the roads of the Tairua riding, which is reached via the Whangamata Road. Heavy rain fell when the men were eight miles frojn Waihi, and at 2 p.m. they decided to return. After leaving Wharekawa the car ran into a deep rat beside a bank, from which it was removed after half an hour's strenuous work. Fifty yards further on it sank to the axles in the soft clay formation. Another hour's exhaustive labour was spent in moving it a few feet.

A chain was lost in the mud, and when the car was extricated the engine stalled. This was righted, only for £he exhausted men to spend their remaining strength in heaving the car out of two more holes before it became hopelessly bogged at 9 p.m. on a hairpin bend. In the meantime Mr. 0. Bjerring and friends, armed with spades and ropes, had been searching for the party in heavy rain, and finally came upon the shivering occupants of the car at 11 p.m. They were taken to Mr. Bjerring's home and given refreshments, after which they set out for Waihi, five miles distant. The car had covered 100 yds. when the back wheels sank" through the road. The journey was resumed at 2 a.m., but five more breakdowns were, met -with before Waihi was reached at 4:30 a:m. The two men reached Thames at 6.30 a.m. to-day.

Although sufiering from colds, both officials attended to-day's meeting of the council. The Whangamata Road is not administered by the Thames County Council