HAVOC BY WASH-OUTS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 6

HAVOC BY WASH-OUTS

ON OTAGO LINES. THE SOUTHERLY IN THE SOUTH. TRAINS HELD UP. (By Tdcgraph.-Prces Association.) Dunodln, August 25. Tho railway traffio was seriously dislocated, as the result of rain yesterday,. A"" slip, at Burkes (five • miles from Dunedin) caused a alight delay on the Port Chalmers lino, but it was cleared away before noon. Tho chief source of trouble was another big slip near Puketeraki (about ,23 miles north of Dunedin). The first express for the north and tho 8.16 a.m. train to Oamaru were can colled, but tho second express was dispatched as usual. It was delayed before reaching Waitati Bridge, 13 miles from Dunedin as the foundations of tlio bridgo had been weakened by tho flood-waters. At Puketeraki the'passengers transferred to a relief train which passed Waikouaiti at 3.15 p.m. Passengers by , the first express from the north reached Dunedin at 6.15 p.m., and the seoond express from Dunedin for Invercargill was delayed till 6.35 p.m. in consequence. Passengers by tho second express from the north did not reach 'Dunedin till after 10.30 p.m. The first express for tho north and the Oamaru train havo been cancelled, but the second express will run as usual. It is hoped to havo the slip at Puketeraki cleared away to-morrow ■afternoon. On the Otago Control line a big subsidence lms taken place near the Barewood Creek, .and repairs will probably not bo completed for about a week. In the meantime the service has been restored between Ranfurly and. Clyde. There was no traffic on the Outram branch (Taieri lino) to-day, but the service will probably be restored tomorrow. Wash-outs on the Lawrence branch caused a delay of Li hours this morning. Snow is lying on the high levels round the city, and reports from Central Otago record a heavy fall there. The weather is still dull and cold.

IN CHRISTCHURGH. DAMAGING GALE & RAIN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Chrlstchurch, August 25. After, a brief spell of spring came a wild outburst of winter last night, tfith a howling south-west gale 'and torrential rain. Tho gale was of * houseshaking force, and wrought havoc with all weak and decrepit fences. It lashed trees just breaking into leaf, and played havoc in many orchards. The Avon and the Heathdote Rivers wore swollen, muddy torronts, and in many places had overflowed the low-lying banks. At tlio hospital the Avon was well up over the bank, and a large wattle tree had been torn in half by the gale and broken branches had fallen into the river. _ The gale increased in severity early in the morning, and the rain fell incessantly until shortly beforo noon. Al'ong the Lyttclton railway line many of the fields wero under water, and resembled small lakes. Inßunvbod, and towards New Brighton, many paddocks were under water. Tlio downpour wasi heavier than on any previous occasion during the winter. The records at the magnetic observatory shew that the rainfall up till noon to-day had been 1.54 inches, over 1J inches m less than sixteen hours.

At Lyttelton the weather was very bad last night, and it was still raining heavily this morning. There wero numerous slips about the hills, and in gullies were racing torrents, pouring muddy streams into the harbour. A heavy sea' was running in the harbtour and along tho coast, and shipping is having a rough time. The weather moderated to-night. IN THE CITY. Yesterday's gale and rains were severely felt in tho city and suburbs, but up till last night 110 damage was reported in the tramway system or on the railway lines in tho vicinity of the city.