HAULAGE FEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 14

HAULAGE FEAT

TRANSPORT OF LAUNCH JOURNEY TO WAIKAREMOANA TASK OCCUPIES SIX DAYS [by telegraph—own correspondent] GISBORNE, Tuesday A great transport feat has been accomplished by Mr. Harry Monk, of GisbGrne, contractor, who moved a 35ft. launch with a weight of six tons from Auckland to Waikaremoana in six days. The launch was the cruiser Maritza 11., purchased by Mr. A. M. White, of Ngatapa, who, with Mrs. White, accompanied the party entrusted with the transport job. There were two drivers and two others assisting with the work and they lived on the launch. Leaving Auckland at 2 a.m., the launch arrived in Rotoraa at the close of the first day after a journey which was uneventful except when passing under the Huntly bridge, where there was a clearance of only lin. between the top of the boat and the lower portions of the bridge. The launch was slung between the rear of a truck and a trailer and stood 14ft. 6in. from the road level.

Many of the bends on the Urewera section of the road were so sharp that the launch was frequently hard up against, the bank without any prospect of it negotiating the bend without the truck and trailer being jacked across the road and partially round the bends, while a second truck had to be used to pull the lorry on which the boat was slung. The patience required for such work was demonstrated at one bend near Ruatahuna, where three and a-half hours were spent before the efforts of the party succeeded, while on one day only three miles were covered.