GIANT RATA CRASHES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1933, Page 9

GIANT RATA CRASHES

NORTH EGMONT ROAD BLOCKED, .

Crashing .to the ground with a resounding thud at 2.15 a.m. ’-yesterday, a giant rata tree has .completely blocked the roa<J to the North Egmont mountain house. The tree, which was on the right hand side of the track less than ,100 yards from the gate, was nearly Bft thick andj about 90ft high. It crashed in coin* paratively calm weather. Examination showed that age was taking its toll, the roots in places being decayed and not strong enough to resist the strain of the top-heavy branches in probably a very; slight breeze.: Mr. and Mr. E. Taylor, who reside the lodge at the gate, were rudely awakened by the' crash, the latter' at first fearing Sthat'-'it was caiised by "a tree on the other side of the track close to the house having come down. That tree, however, leans away from the track.: The telephone line to the mountain house was broken but officials of the Post and Telegraph Department quickly effected repairs. Messrs. Roy Sole and S. Arthur, the nothem committee’s staff ax the mountain house, at once tackled with saw and ave, the task of removing the tree and clearing the track. It is a big job, for anyone but experienced bushmen to tackle but they appeared to be making good, progress and the track should be cleared sufficiently by the week-end to enable traffic to proceed. Yesterday several cars en route to th< mountain house travelled as far as tha reserve gate, where they had to tunr back.