HELD BY FLOOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 122, 26 May 1933, Page 10

HELD BY FLOOD

GIRLS’ EXCITING TRIP CROSSING SWOLLEN STREAM PLANKS SET ON BOULDERS. Although never for a moment in danger, a party of 44 secondary school girls, many of them from Christchurch, enjoyed in the full sense of the word an adventurous experience on the journey from Timaru to the Hermitage last Monday afternoon. It had been arranged that party, which was in charge of a school mistress, should reach the Hermitage at 7 p.m., and when the three motorbuses left Timaru, says the Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Times, nothing but a pleasant journey was in prospect. Up at the Hermitage, however, there were some who felt a triile anxous concerning the comfort of the expected guests, as the weather was boisterous, with howling wind and driving rain. Fires were lighted, a plentiful supply of hot water was assured, and the chef and his staff were busy in the preparation of a special dinner. •Then a report reached the Hermitage that the Bush Creek, easily crossed in normal times, was rising rapidly. The manager of the Mount Cook Tourist Company, Mr. R. L. Wigley, aware that the stream might leave its usual course and spread across the road, had hurried consultation with the manager of the Hermitage, Mr. C. Elms, who agreed that it would be prudent to inspect theroad. Turning back for 30 Miles Accompanied by members of the outside staff of the Hermitage, Mr. Wigley set out for the ford some 10 miles away. When they reached Bush*Creek he saw that it had swung out of its old course under the bridge, having scoured a new channel. It was a raging torrent, full of tumbling boulders. Obviously it was not to be attempted by motor vehicles. Mr. Wigley, an experienced mountaineer, abandoned an attempt to cross on a wire. TJ>e bus drivers realised immediately on arrival that further progress was out of the question. As darkness came down the torrent showed no signs of diminishing, the only possible course was adopted, and the three busloads of girls, in no way downeast, were driven back to the Pukaki Hotel, a distance of 30 miles. In the meantime the Hermitage party had warned the proprietor that he was to be favoured with the company of half a hundred unexpected guests, most of them with healthy juvenile appetites. The host and his wife turned to, prepared to do everything possible. To this end they enlisted the aid of neighbours Farmers came from miles around, their cars piled and stuffed with blankets, rugs and mattresses. What was the surprise and joy of the girls to find on arrival at the isolated hotel that it blazed a welcome, with a roaring fire in every hearth. There was steaming water in plenty and, after the stains of the adventurous journey had been washed away, the whole party sat down to a hot meal. Under the direction of their mistresses the girls made beds on the floors, before blazing fires. After a good breakfast next morning, when the sun shone forth, all were keen to essay onCe more the journey to the Hermitage. From Boulder to Boulder Merrily the 30 miles were traversed for the third time, and shouts of excitement were heard when the buses pulled up at Bush Creek, for the angry stream remained impassable. the Hermitage staff had a consultation with the mistresses, and demonstrated that tho girls would be, in no danger of so much as wetting their feet if passed over the tumbling stream on a temporary decking of planks. Roadmen of the Mackenzie Country Council staff, together with Mr. Wigley’s team, collected the timber and arranged the planks with much care and skill, so that even tho youngest girls were confident. To make the crossing doubly sure, the Hermitage staff waded into the swirling water, stationing themselves at the boulders on

which tho planks were set. They then gave a hand in turn to each girl as she stepped across. There was not a wet foot in tho party! All was now clear io the Hermitage, and the, 10 miles journey was soon accomplished. The party arrived in good time for lunch.