TWO PICNICKERS ARE MAROONED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19271, 7 January 1931, Page 4

TWO PICNICKERS ARE MAROONED.

FLOOD WATERS CATCH A PARTY UNAWARES.

To be marooned on an island for eight hours when the Waimakariri River came down in flood on Sunday was the experience that befell two members of a picnic party, Mr William Johnson and Miss A. Johnson, of Hackthorne Road, Cashmere. The other members of the party were Mr and Mrs A. G. Aldridge and their five-year-old son, of Pine Avenue, Cashmere. In the forenoon the party got on to Temple Island, which is about 100 acres in area, without any difficulty. Mr and Mrs Aldridge and son were bathing in the river before lunch, when the flood waters suddenly came down. They received enough warning to enable them to wade across to the mainland, but by the time Miss Johnson and her father attempted to cross the water had risen and was flowing very swiftly. They regained the island and proceeded to look round for another avenue of escape. The search proved fruitless and the pair were faced with the uncomfortable thoughts of being stranded there indefinitely and the possibility of the water coming over the island. Mr and Mrs Aldridge had some trouble in getting assistance, but eventually help was obtained from settlers in the locality, and at seven o’clock Mr and Miss Johnson were transferred by horse and dray to the mainland, none the worse for their trying experience.