THE ROADLESS NORTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19259, 25 August 1924, Page 7

THE ROADLESS NORTH.

STRUGGLE IN THE BACKBLOCKS. CREAM CARRIER’S EXPERIENCES. (Feom Odb Own Cobeespondent.) AUCKLAND, August 24. A striking story of the roadless north comes from Whangaripo, m the Ivaipara district, about 10 miles east of Wellstord railway station. lor several months of the year tee settlers there are isolated owing to the disappearance of the roads into a bottomless abyss. Spring, however, brings the cows ill, and the cream has to bo conveyed by some moans to the railway on route to the factory. Not being provided with airplanes capable of lifting the load the settlers tax themselves and let the iob of carting the cream to some contractor undaunted by the perils of the deep. Owing to the long and wet season the conditions of travel at present are the worst known in the district’s history. Last Monday the cream contractor oocumulausd his load which is not a very great one just vet ’ and started on tee long struggle to the’ railway station. He had not gone far when his vehicle broke down under the strain. However, a settler’s turnout was obtained and the load was transferred and another start made. The road, however, claimed another victim, for this vehicle also came to grief in the mud. Realising how much the getting of the cream to the factory meant to the settlers, the contractor, instead of giving up, cost round and obtained another settler’s conveyance. The cream was again reloaded, and off again. Surely success would smile up»jff the contractor this time! It did not. Disaster overcame the third vehicle and it also was abandoned by the roadside. Not to bo beaten, the contractor set off to Wollsford and brought; back one of his own wagons and loaded up again, and (his time successfully completed the journey. Owing to the train being late ho had the satisfaction of seeing the settlers’ produce taken as usual to the distant factory. He lie missed tile, train great loss would have fallen upon many struggling settlers, whose load is already very heavy. The contractor’s perseverance and pluck, while modestly held to be but “part of the. job,” nevertheless illustrate the type of person that exists within 70 miles of Auckland's concrete roads and ever-accumulating comforts. _____________