MAILMAN'S DIFFICULTIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 11

MAILMAN'S DIFFICULTIES

THE TINIROTO SERVICE SLEDGE AND WHEELBARROWS 1 Two cars, a sledge, and a number pf wheelbarrows have been pressed into seevice to maintain the Tiniroto mail livery from Gisborne, owing to the <EJS» - culties caused by the numerous large slips which were brought down on the Hanga» roa section of the road by last weeSSft earthquake. Normally the mail m Tiniroto is a brief matter, the diftanog being 38£ miles, but under the conditfcrfi c now prevailing the mailman, Mr. Jl* v Dickinson, took all d a y on the ran last Thursday, what with changing cars snd pledging the mailbags and cream cam to the biggest slip. Mr. Dickinson left Tiniroto at_ about 7.30 a.m., and did not reach Gisborne until 6 p.m. For the present it is possible for him to take his car from Tiniroto .o.nly a short distance, transporting his load fiom there over the several mile 3of damaged l'oad by sledge. Last week th® track which had been cleared round the slips at Koikoura was again backed, and ---' the mailman was held -up for about an V-. hour and a-half until a track was cut forth* sledge round the obstructions. The sledge could not negotiate the big slips at the bluffs, and with the assistance of roadmen, the mailbags and cream cans were taken over the slips in wheelbarrows, Mr. Dickinson himself; making four trips over the obstructions. A second'" car was loaded up on the Gisborne side of the bluffs, and from there the'"mailman had a clear run.

Despite the extreme difficulties with which the contractor has been faced, the mail service has not been interrupted, though some delay with the outward mail from Gisborne could not be avoided. Twice last week Mr. Dickinson took,out the usual number of mailbags, together with bundles of newspapers, a large quantity of bread, and a variety of stores of which the isolated Tiniroto settlers stood in need.