GREAT CLOUDBURST

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 7

GREAT CLOUDBURST

NEAR EALING. SOUTH EXPRESS STOPPEDHEAVY WASH-OUT. (lit Tole*rai>b—Press Association.! Ashburton, October 30. A cloudburst occurred at Ealing, on tho Ashburton bank of tho Ruugitata River, mid 20 miles south of Ashburton, at about 3.30 this afternoon, and as u result tho whole countrysido for a radius of alxmt two miles was flooded with water, which rose in many paddocks and on the roads to a depth of from three to fivo feet. Tho deluge lasted about half an hour, and tho damage to land and crops must lie considerable, whilo standing timber, ctc., was carried away. From tho general public's point of viow, however, tho worst feature of this phenomenal outburst was its effect on. the railway. Tho water soon ran in torrents over tho banks of the railway cutting, where tho lino descends to tho Rangitata railway bridgo. It played havoc with the banks, corrugating and tearing them badly, and for fully iv bundled yards shinglo soon submerged tho rails. Tho flood waters converged at tho foot of tho cutting in tho two-chain open embankment between tho banks and tho beginning of tho bridgo proper. Tho forco of tho heavy volume of I water destroyed tho embankment, totally for five or six yards, and for all practical purposes for the wliolo two chains. In tho central part tho rails and sleepers wero left banging over a gap seven feet deep. The sccond express from tho south was stopped at Rangitata, and a goods train from tho north at Ealing. Tho local maintcnanco gang immediately sot to work to clear tho line, and a relief train from Ashburton reached tho sceno at 9.30 p.m. Passengers, mails, and baggago were transhipped from ono train to another, Ashburton being reached on tho return journey at 10.20 p.m. A good staff of men are now on tho scene, and tho repair work will proceed continuously, but there is no word yot as to when tho traffic caa bo resumed. [ Later. A "Guardian" reporter, who 'remained at Ealing after the departure of tho relieving train at 10 o'olock, telephoned at 11.30 p.m. that, although it will take'about a week to repair tho permanent way, through traffic will bo resumed to-morrow by diverting tho line immediately. Tho relieving train left 30 men, who at onco started to clear tho debris and fill in tho big hole causod by tho wash-out, etc. Smaller wash-onts also occurred in other spots near EaliAg, but all wero repaired early. Tho full extent of tho damage, however,' cannot be ascertained till daylight.