BOULDER ON LINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22173, 29 July 1935, Page 8

BOULDER ON LINE

MISHAP TO RAIL-CAE DRIVER'S PROMPT ACTION LITTLE DAMAGE CAUSED A large boulder which, it is thought, was placed on the railway line was struck by the rail motor-car near Feilding while the vehicle was travelling from Auckland to Wellington yesterday. Only slight damage was done to the car. The vehicle,-which was conveying Mr. G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways, and his official party on their return to Wellington after a. tour of inspection in the Auckland Province, was travelling at a fairly fast speed at the time. The place where the incident occurred was on the northern bank of the Oroua River, several miles south of Feilding. The driver, Mr. L. Mardon, did not see the obstruction until the car was within a few yards of it. He quickly applied the brakes and the car struck the boulder at a much-reduced speed. The wheel guards took the force of the impact and they were displaced, although not seriously. The undercarriage was not damaged. An examination showed that the boulder, which weighed 371b., was probably carried up the railway embankment from the riverbed near by. The stone was placed in the car and was taken to Wellington. The incident caused only a few minutes', delay and no time was lost in continuing the journey, the actual running time between Auckland and Wellington being nine hours 24 minutes.'