SERIOUS DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 10

SERIOUS DAMAGE

NAPXER-WAIROA ROAD LONG BLOCKAGE LIKELY SLIPS ON TANGOIO HILL MOTOR-CARS BURJED IN SILT [by TELEGRAPH —own cokkespondent] GIBBORNE, Sunday "It is impossible to estimate closely the time which will be required to restore communications between Napier and Wairoa by road. 1 feel certain, however, that it will bo at least six weeks before normal conditions are restored," said Mr. D. M. McGregor, resident patrol of the Automobile Association (Auckland) at Gisborne,. in .giving tho first available report on conditions in tho area about Tangoio, in which ho was marooned for five days. From motorists who made their way down the Tangoio Hill after being held up on the top section, Mr. McGregor learned that the whole course of. tho road downhill from the summit to the Devil's Elbow was one long slip, and that reconstruction there would a tremendous, if not impossiblo task. Ihe road ascending from tho Tangoio Valley to the summit, and passing the Tangoio Falls, had been carried bodily into the river, and where the highway stood for years was now a sheer face. ' Mr. McGregor's car,, which was overwhelmed by the flood water not far from the Tangoio school, stood on the roadside filled with silt and pressed down by an accumulation of heavy timber. It was only one of many vehicles which suffered in the floods, or were damaged by falls of rock on tho high* way. The Napier-Gisborne mail truck, which was caught on top of tho Devil s Elbow section, was reported to be almost buried in a slip, and throughout the Esk Valley there were many vehicles which were covered with sdt in their garages. • , Not far from Tangoio the telegraph lines were only a foot or two above the silt level. On every flat section of the route, the road was buried to varying depths.

CAUGHT BY FLOOD MOTORISTS IN PERIL - / ,BATTLE WITH TORRENT LIVES SAVED BY TREES [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] GISBORNE, Sunday Caught by the rising waters at Tangoio, 14 miles north of Napier, two Gisborne residents travelling from Hawke's Bay narrowly escaped death. When having to leave their car, which had stalled, to seek safety they were swept into a torrent. They were Miss Marjorio Skinner, formerly of Napier, and Mr. D. M. McGregor, resident patrol of the Automobile Association (Auckland) at Gisborne. After passing Tangoio native school, the car ran into water on the road and Mr. McGregor stopped the engine to make an examination of the stream ahead. In a minute or two the water rose to a level which prevented him restarting the engine. By midnight the water had entered tho car, and only the seats were dry. Before long water began to break over the doors on the upstream side of the car, and the vehicle threatened to overturn. Tho occupants then decided to attempt to reach a fence, along which they would clamber to higher ground. They reached the fence, but after a time were forced to release their hold and were carried downstream. Just as the stream seemed likely to carry them past, they managed to grasp the trailing branches of some willow trees and drew themselves to safety. Alter a struggle they climbed into the branches of the trees. It was not Until well after daylight that they saw a chance of relief. A Maori boy came along the hillside to examine tho car, only the hood of which was showing above the water. Others came later, and finally Mr. McGregor attracted their attention. Mr. R, H. Goodson, master of the langoio native school, arrived and, with the aid of three natives, he floated a light line to the marooned motorists, enabling them to draw across tho flood waters first a heavier cord and then a section of fencing wire. . , The three Maoris entered the flood waters without regard for their own safety, and one carried Miss Skinner on his shoulders to safety, dragging himself hand-over-hand along the wire. Mr. McGregor stated that although Miss Skinner could not swim, she had shown remarkable courage.