BACKBLOCKS HARDSHIPS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 15

BACKBLOCKS HARDSHIPS

INJURED MAN’S ORDEAL. NO ROAD ACCESS TO HOSPITAL. A serious accident occurred on Wednesday evening, when Mr. Stanley John Morrison, who had been to Neavesville with pack horses, was returning to Hikuai, in the Thames district. Mr. Morrison, who had lent his own horse to a,gumdigger, was riding a pack horse, wliicli gave some trouble, and at the crossing of the third branch of the Tairua River the rider was thrown. His left leg was caught in one of the saddle hooks and he was dragged for four chains through the creek and along the read. The muscles of one leg were badly torn and Mr. Morrison was also bruised and shaken. With great fortitude and presence of mind the injured man brought the animal to a standstill by seizing its front legs. He then had to undo the girth and breastplate and so allow the saddle, to which he was suspended, to fall to the ground. This done he freed the hook from his leg, not without difficulty, as the iron was deeply embedded. Mt. Morrison then crawled about 19 chains to a Maori encampment, where he received first aid. Word was sent to Hikuai and a lorry was despatched, in which the injured man was conveyed to his home. It was found that his injuries were such as to make it imperative for immediate hospital treatment and a party of stretcher bearers was organised to bring him into Thames, as the road from Hikuai to Puriri is impassable for any wheel traffic. About 21 residents arid workers in the district formed the party and on Thursday morning they started on their long journey. They reached Neavesville at 11 a.m., after a strenuous uphill climb in mud and slush and at times in heavy rain. Mr, Maxwell’s place on the track to Puriri was reached at 2 p.m. and there the Thames Hospital ambulance was awaiting the injured man and conveyed him to Thames, which he reached about an hour later. Great credit is due to the many willing helpers who assisted in the arduous task of carrying Mr. Morrison, out. This is one of several recent instances which show the urgent necessity for road access to the settlers of the Tairua Valley. Recently a boy of 10 years had to be carried out over the same steep track and the week before that a very serious case took two days in very bad weather conditions to reach hospital. At this time of the year the long road north to Coroglen is impassable, as also is the route south to Waihi. Neavesville is more than 2000 ft above sea level and the track from both sides of the Coromandel Ranges is both tortuous and rough.