THE “HOLIDAYS”!

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 2

THE “HOLIDAYS”!

By J. M. S. K. A Happy New Year! What a “holiday” week it has been ! Not only for those who were travelling during that week, but for some who had reached their destination and wore safely and comfortably housed. After a run of a little oyer 100 miles wo had arrived at our destination on the evening of the 20th December, having had by the way nothing more eventful than a “blow-out” in one of the rear tyres of our leading car, said “blow-out” being caused by a piece of broken glass. The weather was cloudy but fair, and we had in passing, a glorious view of the mountains. Although fog hung like a fleecy drapery around many of the peaks, Mounts Cook and Softon shone forth magnificently. It almost seemed that they had put off their draperies to greet us, as we were told that they had been more or less shrouded for some days. As our route led us out of view of these Alpine giants, we congratulated ourselves that we had been so highly favoured, particularly when we met others, not of New Zealand, who had come for the express purpose of seeing Mount Cook, yet had to go away unsatisfied, not even getting as far as Pukaki. ■ The weather, which had been unsettled and showery for some days, broke at last on Christmas Day, and the rain was so heavy and incessant during that afternoon and night, and mist of Boxing Day, that every creek became a river, and every rivulet a creek, and where dry channels had been there were torrents. In fact, the hills and mountains and the flats resounded with the rush of waters. Big spates, little spates, middle-sized spates—rushing, rushing, rushing to “join the brimming river.” The sound of waters made it almost impossible to toll whether or not the rain had ceased, unless one actually wont out-of-doors. Waters! “Waters of conflict” everywhere ! Ordinarily, regular motor traffic did not pass near our abode, but this was no ordinary time, and the ordinary routes Were now extraordinary, and of no use in many places. Bridge approaches were washed away and bridges unsafe. Fords were no longer fordable. In these localities fords may change with every freshet, and the motorist is helpless indeed wore it not for the unfailing courtesy of the adjacent residents—usually station-holders, who send men and horses to the assistance of the distressed traveller. Although during Sunday, December 28, the weather with us was comparatively fine, heavy rainstorms could bo observed sweeping along the mountains, and the creeks, which wore somewhat lower on Monday morning, when a service car with difficulty forced a passage, began again to rise during the afternoon. About midaftqmoon came some motorists, who were desirous of getting through to the Hermitage. They wore English tourists, who, being pushed for time, had , hired a car and chauffeur, and were hoping to see Mount Cook. They were willing to risk trying the ford, but, alas! after taking all necessary precautions to prevent water getting into the engine, the car refused to climb out of the first channel of the creek. Thinking to ease tho car. an elderly gentleman clambered along tho side of the car and jumped on to the bank of shingle mid-stream, but still tho engine refused tho pull, and horses were put to and pulled the oar out of the creek—ignominiously—back first. In the meantime tho gentleman who had so thoughts , fully relieved tho car of considerable avoirdupois was loft standing, with no hope of getting into tho car again without a wetting. A saddle-horse, being of tho company of assistants, was offered him, and, although ho had never been on a horse, he very pluckily mounted. Only those accustomed to horses and riding can fully appreciate tho spectacle of a nowchum rider, and many wore the smiles among those who were merely onlookers. Fortunately, tho horse wag a quiet one, else our friend, who first attempted to mount from tho wrong side, had probably had a “spill” as well as a wetting. Tho mounting difficulty overcome, yet remained tho fording of tho channel, and while Mr at first clung to tho pommel of the saddle without any hold of tho reins or attempt to guide tho horse, gradually his hands slipped downwards until ho had tho knee-pads securely gripped, and the rapt expression of his face was something to behold. Tho horse had made a fair start to cross the ford, but, feeling no guiding hand upon the reins, evidently wondered what was required of iior, as she came to a full-stop in mid-stream, and there stood awaiting she know not what, until one of tho girls waded- in and led her ashore. Cameras were busy, but tho tourist and his family were quite snorts enough to laugh at their own predicament. By this time evening was advancing, and a consultation was hold as to ways and means of 'best accommodating the unexpected guests —there wore four of them. This was finally arranged by our worthy host and hostess turning' out of their room and packing themselves and their family into as small space us possible for tho night. The guests, who were people after our own hearts, wore both conscious of and grateful for tho kindness and hospitality extended to them, and the enforced visit was a mutual enjoyment. Well for them that they did not got farther than our crook, as one car which hud been assisted through our ford earlier in the day hod become hopelessly “stuck” a tew miles further on, and a heavy motor lorry, without a load, which had safely manipulated this ford, had also become involved, and wua pulled out. buckways by a team of horses. Tuesday, December 30, was again fine on the low country, but heavy storms could yet bo seen constantly deluging tho mountains, and tho creeks again gradually rose higher and yet higher. Several motor cars came and were turned back to wait or to leave without further attempts. During Die afternoon tho rain started again, and continued during tho evening and most of tho night with almost torrential violence, and, of course, the tumult of waters became worse than before. With Wednesday morning came again the clamour of motorists anxious to bo on their way. A heavy Service car manipulated tho ford successfully. A “Nash,” which had been assisted hero, got into difficulties further on, and was towed by the Service car to tho nearest hotel. Three more cars came, but Wore (advised to wait another day. Towards evening a car was observed on the far side of the stream. It had got to the ford, but evidently lacked sufficient pluck to venture in on its own. An audience of women and children on our side of tho river were powerless to render assistance, but now we see Jack and his team of horses coming home from their work. Bringing the dray and three of the motorists through tho ford. Jack unyoked tho horses and returned with them to tho waiting car. Poor horses, having done their day’s work, and, looking forward to stable and feed, wondered why they should be turned when so near home! While this car was being towed to safety two other cars appeared, and they in turn were pulled across. Occupants of No. 1 car said they had come about 35 miles, taking all day to do so. They had boon in trouble several times, and wore pulled out of on© fix by a team of men I “It was so funny!” said these ladies. “Really! It is fortunato that we can see tho funny side of it!” Suddenly the temperature foil. My friend and myself, being country women, wore silent. Although our sympathies went out to those in trouble, too well wo knew at what cost those men stood by to assist the anxious-minded traveller, whoever he might be, to see much “fun” in it. Although there are few situations which have not some element of the absurd, the long days of wot—wet clothes—wet socks and boots, wetness to the very marrow, with small hope of getting into dry’ clothing until bedtime, were not in any sense “funny.” The weariness, and, one blushes to say so, but truth will out in many instances, the thanklessncss of it all. Some there are, and one likes to think of them as constituting a majority, who are deeply grateful, but there are those who do not deserve the help which is so readily given, who even complain that they have “had to wait for over an hour.” They have cause for thankfulness that they arc not still waiting, if only they were conscious of it. This is only one small place. What has happened here has been happening in many another place. The half is not told, oven the half of what has come and gone under our limited observation. Our story could be much prolonged. “Jack and his team” have pulled quite a number of cars through the river, and some of the motorists have gone on their way without even saying “Thank yon!” It was nothing to them that a team of horses had done its day’s work; that the man in charge of the team had his ordinary duties to attend to, and the pulling of their car through the river was not any part of these duties. We Certainly did sec a lady offer “Jack” a chocolate. We were told, too, that a number of men who had spent a whole day in giving assistance to various motorists had been rewarded by one cigarette! Not one each, but just one! We were not told whether the men took “draw” about, or how the cigarette was smoked. To the credit of most travellers be it said that (hoy leave with these men some token of thoir appreciation, bat there are tho '•■dodgers” jvho

put acid In the hearts and minds of country people, and if at times a motorist meets With curtness where he expected courtesy he may be assured that some have passed that way who had no sensibility of the depth of their obligations. But the sky has cleared, and this, the first day of J 925. is a beautiful day. The floods are abating. We usually find that the disagreeables are far outweighed by the agreeables —the bad by the good. By endeavouring t( keep fine weather in our hearts and minds we shall retain those things which are “lovely and of good report,” and so ensure to ourselves and to those with whom we have to spend our time “a happy new year."