GISBORNE ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 8

GISBORNE ROADS

AFTERMATH OF FLOODS MAIL SERVICES RESUME [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] GISBORNE, Saturday Mail services were resumed between Gisborne and Napier last night and the southern mail arrived in Gisborne this morning at the usual time after the trucks had taken a deviation to avoid the road blockage at the Devil's Elbow, south of Tutira. Four trucks were despatched from Napier last night with full loads of mail and freight, and the trip to Gisborne was made up to usual schedule. Service cars were despatched as usual to-day. A party of three returning to Gisborne from the north in the early hours of yesterday morning when the heavy overnight downpour had caused creeks to flood had a lucky escape. Coming unexpectedly to a small bridge near Waikohu, the decking of which was 7ft. under water, the car became almost completely submerged, but its occupants escaped unhurt. The car had to be towed to town for overhaul. Goods and passenger transport services were delayed by the submersion of this bridge. The mail truck from the north reached the Hooded bridge and the driver had to remain at the roadside for four hours before the water had subsided sufficiently to permit an attempt to negotiate the bridge. The truck was later joined by one from the Gisborne side and the north-bound service car from Gisborne also arrived on the scene. Both the mail truck and the service car stalled in attempting to cross the flooded bridge and had to be towed.