MID-ISLAND BLIZZARD

Taranaki Daily News, 8 August 1930, Page 10

MID-ISLAND BLIZZARD

MOTORISTS’ EXPERIENCES. . ONE. PARTY SNOWED IN. • . A party of Wellington motorists who left the city 'last wek for Tdngariro National Park had all the snow, cold and wintry experience they require rot 'a’year or Two. Before leaving they sought information from the Automobile .’Club’ as/to the roads. .'They .were told the roods were all right, but they found them' all wrong.' The going was •food until shortly 'after leaving. Taihape, and there they ran into snow, which held for. practically the whole of the remainder of the journey.. parts it was up to three feet deep. The worst lengths had been cleared by prison labour, but driving was dangerous owin° to the risk of skidding, particularly on bends. The siiow-coyered trees and icicle-draped rocks along the roadway Were a beautiful sight, when there wat time'to appreciate them. ’-/”..• The conditions were worst in the vicinity of Erua, where the main prisor camp is situated, and the road would have been impassable but for the good work'done in the bitter cold by -met from the’camp.' The cold, even m t closed car,'was intense, but the party <mt through ’at last,' after two hours driving’in the dark. Then, within 6( yards ”of the Chateau, they ran into t heavy drift and were stuck haid am fast." A. gang of men' from- the Chateai <ius them’out in quick time, and ie J Staged 'their car as soon as they could " The 'plains about the Chateau were heavilv covered with snow, and the mountains, particularly Tonganro, were 11 WhiliUat the Chateau they heard ol a party of motorists who were properly can "lit by the blizzard earlier in th< week, end narrowly misSed being frozei: to'death. A party of three an elderly man ran into a deep drift near Waimarino. The man set out t( (Ind assistance, and in a few minntei found himself up to the neck in a stil heavier drift. He managed to struggh back to the car, aud (here the foui stayed until found by the superintend ent* of the prison camp some houn later.’ They were taken to the canij and giveii hot baths and food, but were so cramped and cold when ,foun< that probably another half hour’s ex posut’e would* have meant tragedy.