BLOCKED TRAINS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1890, 27 October 1913, Page 8

BLOCKED TRAINS

SERVICE STILL DISLOCATED,

POSITION IMPROVING,

(Br Presj Association.)

Marton, October 25. On Friday afternoon, a number of passengers who had booked through to Auckland by tho Main Trunk train left by tho Wellington-New Plymouth express and continued their journey to Auckland by steamer. A special train left at 5 o'clock with another contingent. There is still a largo numbor delayed here, booked for intermediate stations. They are being well looked after by officials.

At 5 o'clock this morning ~a train was dispatched to Hunterville, tho lino being now clear on this section. The first train on tho Main Trunk since tho slips arrived hero at, 9 a.m., the starting point being Hunterville. Tho guards' van showed signs of a rough trip.

Tho engine derailed .at Mangaweka tunnel was not capsized as previously reported. It has not been righted. It is considered that several days will elapse before through connection is restored.

. Tho Marton yards are full of rolling stock sidetracked. No doubt consignees of perishable goods will suffer. A number of roads in the upper part of the Rangitikei county are almost impassable owing to the number of slips, and there is a big wash-out on one road. _ The main road beyond Mangaweka is blocked. Damage to several bridges is reported. It is almost impossible to obtain authentic information of the locality of tho slips on the railway. Tho officials aro;hard worked, but are carrying out their duties excellently.

Marton, October 26. The train for Auckland left here at 3 o'clock this afternoon, and a special goods train with three passenger carriages at 3.30 p.m. It is uncertain if it will get right through. If it does it will at least mean a few hours' delay, for unless tho line is clear it will have to tranship. A train from Auckland is expectcd to pass here at nine to-night. LINE ALMOST CLEAR. Wanganul, Octobor 26. With tlie exception of a few small slips between Mangaweka and Hunterville, caused by the drizzling rain on Saturday night, the Main Trunk lino is clear. It was expected that tho train leaving Marton at 3 p.m. to-day would get'through and also the down train.

PALMERSTON REPORT. (By Telegraph—Spccial Correspondent.) Palmerston, October 26.' The river has subsided, but tho heavy drizzle on Sunday restored tho general wetness. Tho damage done by the overflow of tho Oroua was rather extensive, and created excitement among ilaxmills. One millhand,, describing tho inrush of wator, says:—"l was gathering fibre off the ground where tho water was only threo inches deep, when suddenly I found myself up to tho waist, and the water coming down like a mill-race." Several mills are now islands, and some men are prisoners in the huts,. while others retreated to town. Ono Karcro mill reports the loss of 20 tons of fibre, and a farmer in the same locality lost 500 ewes and lambs. ' LATEST ABOUT THE TRAINS. Yesterday afternoon, tho lino having been sufficiently cleared, it was intended to dispatch a train from Taihape to Wellington. This train was to bring from 250 to .300 passengers, and was to stop at stations as requested by them, and not to keep to the ordinary time-table. It was .expected to arrive in Wellington at 2 o'clock this morning. Just as preparations were completed, however, another slip came down. This caused a delay of .two hours, mailing the time of arriving here about 3.30 o'clock this morning. To give somo ideo of the dislocation caused by the slips it may bo mentioned that this train left Auckland on Wednesday. The train which left Wellington at 9.10 o'clock . last \night for Auckland will, it is expected, get right through to Auckland.. . Passengers, by this morning's train will not be booked beyond Marton. Though no tickets will be issued beyond this station, every endeavour will bo made to got passengers through. : As -.a':'.'result'-of tho dislocation, a heavy mail has accumulated, estimated at from; 90 to 100 bags. This has been piling up from Thursday night, but it is hoped to get it south by way of New Plymouth. If this is done it can bo expected in Wellington at 7 o'clock' to-night.