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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 1, Issue 4, October 1984

Punts

Punts

"Before bridges were able to be built over large rivers the ferry punt, working on wire ropes, was the chief means of crossing for horse and vehicle and foot travellers. Some of these punts were large enough to take a coach and four horses, or a small mob of stock, up to about twenty head. They consisted of boat-shaped flat pontoons on floats and a deck of planking, with a strong rail on each side, and a gate or a rope stretched across at each end. The punt was carried on strong wire rope made fast to two stout posts driven into the ground on each side of the river. The sharp-ended pontoons were set at an angle to the current by means of levers, and the force of the stream against these floats carried the punt smoothly across. It was prevented from floating downstream by the wire rope on the upstream side, which held it securely while allowing it to travel along easily. The river crossed, it was berthed at a plank landing alongside the bank; then the floats were trimmed again in the opposite direction for the return passage.

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"One man was sufficient to attend to the punt and collect the fee, which covered the cost of maintaining the ferry. Rivers which were too deep to ford made the punt a necessity on the main routes before bridges were built. The location was important; the punts could not be fixed where the river was very swift; the place was usually where it began to slacken down, as at the place where the Buller River emerged from the gorge on the swampy plain a few miles above Westport."

Settlers and Pioneers by James Cowan.

Punts were extensively used throughout the northern part of the South Island, the larger ones being those used by coaches travelling to Westport. Many hair-raising tales are told of the coaching days. "A tragedy was miraculously averted at the Nine Mile punt on 10th May 1908 when eleven members of the Howard Verdum Theatrical Company which had played in Westport the previous evening, were proceeding to Greymouth in Newman Brothers' coach. Besides the company and the driver of the coach, Mr Norman Pahl, the puntsman, C. Grooby and J. Askew were also on the punt. The river was in high flood and the passengers stood on the punt which was three-quarters of the way across when the anchor post on the north bank broke away, with the result that one end of the punt dipped into the raging waters. The end gate broke and the terrified horses plunged over. Mr Pahl leaping from his seat as the coach disappeared. Then the post on the other bank gave way, the punt being carried three miles down the river until it grounded at Snag Fall and drifted into shallower water where the passengers, after great difficulty, jumped off and managed to scramble ashore. The punt continued a wild career down the river."

Yesterdays in Golden Buller" by Ella Matthews.

Despite mishaps and near tragedies punts served a very useful purpose until traffic bridges were built. The reply to a deputation asking for a bridge over the Buller at Lyell was: "The Prime Minister said, 'Costly works of this kind could not possibly be undertaken at present. Where ferries are operating satisfactorily the need for bridges does not present itself."

– From the Lyell Times 7.2.1885).

Bridge over Mataki Gorge outlet. – Photo Murchison Museum.

Bridge over Mataki Gorge outlet. – Photo Murchison Museum.

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The photograph shows what is perhaps the oldest bridge in the district that is still in use, the 'Iron Bridge' over the Buller below Lyell. completed in 1890. The punt that was used is in the foreground. – Alexander Turnbull Library.

The photograph shows what is perhaps the oldest bridge in the district that is still in use, the 'Iron Bridge' over the Buller below Lyell. completed in 1890. The punt that was used is in the foreground. – Alexander Turnbull Library.