TASTE OF OLD DAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20768, 10 January 1931, Page 11

TASTE OF OLD DAYS.

FORDING FLOODED RIVERS.

BY MOTOR TO MOUNT COOK. THRILLING EXPERIENCES. That even in these days of safety and comfort, good roads and bridges, there remain in some circumstances of the weather some of the adventures that accompanied travelling in the coaching days was shown hy a trip made recently by 0110 of tho buses running between Timaru and The Hermitage, Mount C'ook. There is still that bugbear of the old clays—the flooded river—and on tho run to Mount Cook there are many rivers with broad shingle beds liable to overflow their banks. Thrills attend tho fording of these rivers.

Shortly after leaving Timaru heavy rain set in and it poured for the remainder of tho day. The first stage of tho journey was drear in the extreme, tussock country endlessly in the foreground and banks of mist all round shutting out any scenery there might have been. On arrival at Pukaki word was received that tho rivers wero in flood. After an hour's wait the driver hesitatingly decided to go on, and then the excitement began. The first hold-up occurred about 15 miles from the Hermitage. The party came upon a limousine abandoned in a ford, tne tail-light just visiblo on one side and the other side deeper in the water. This car had contained Sir Michael and Lady Myers and their son. They had had to get out in mid-stream, wade ashore wet to the waist, and then walk a mile and ahalf to the nearest station to await a rescue car from The Hermitage. The bus driver was a man of many parts, and there was a lone wait while he helped a road grader salvage the car. Then it was the bus' turn. The Water broke like waves over it, pouring in while the bus rocked like a ship in a heavy storm. At last the ford was crossed. Then, .after several lesser ones had been negotiated, the bus stopped again and the passengers were told to get out. It was twilight, pouring with rain, blowing a gale, and the glamour of the trip was wearing off. The driver took the bus through, leaving the rest of the party huddled together in tho cold—on the wrong side of the river. By this time, however, a car had arrived from the Hermitage. Men appeared from everywhere, waded through the water and carried the women across upon their backs. Evervone was soaked.

All were across at last, and into the bus once more; shoes and stockings were taken off and somebody found some brandy.

For the next five miles it seemed to be water all the wav. Then, near the Hermitage, .was the worst ford of all. With no preliminaries this time the bus plunged straight in. The water was almost over the engine, and another bus was already stuck in the middle, but magnificent driving took the car safely through.