At Te Araroa

Te Ao Hou, March 1962, Page 11

At Te Araroa Despite our prayers the elements were against us. The day before the concert it poured. A brief respite on Friday morning and then the deluge. Our time of departure was set for 5 p.m., but the storm continued unabated. I wondered vaguely why no-one had rung to say ‘Pack up, the river is rising’. I didn't bother because I complacently thought, ‘These people know their district’. Then a neighbour sent a message to say that if I wanted to use the car I had better put it across the creek by our home immediately as another half hour at the rate the rain was falling and nothing would cross. I loaded the concert paraphenalia, the baking for supper, and the goods for the sales take on to the car and drove it across the creek, waded back to my family and fed and dressed them for the night's adventure. Between heavy downpours we crossed to the car and drove to the Awatere River, where my fears arose, just as the river was doing. Could we cross with our babies, our supper, concert gear and so forth? It was dark now, the river was rising rapidly, and the rain had increased. Never let it be said that the people of Horoera are faint-hearted. We crossed, on Dewes' tractor. It took four full loads before everyone was safely at the meeting-house, but we got there. Despite all difficulties, the concert was a great success, and the people supported us to the extent of £50 in the bank. There was no chance of returning to Horoera that night, so we put the children to bed in the meeting-house. No-one got much sleep, but by morning the Awatere was crossable, so again Sam Hale ferried us across on the tractor.