MAIN TRUNK HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2524, 27 July 1915, Page 7

MAIN TRUNK HOLD-UP

PASSENGERS' TRYING EXPERIENCE.' WAIKATO RIVER RISING RAPIDLY (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, July 26. Nearly eight hundred passengers arrived at Auckland on Sunday on tho resumption of the traffic delayed by landslips on the Main Trunk railway line. It was a trying experience for all. The troublo commenced when tlio train ran into a mass of earth and boulders at Piriaka, six and a half miles'south, of Taumaranui, on. Thursday morning. During subsequent delays, owing to slips and wash-outs, the paisseugors were for a time short of food, x and there was no gas in the train.Candles wero largely used for lighting purposes. The Yvaikato River is rising rapidly. The Hood has caused a._ wash-out 0110 and a half miles north of Huntly. The: first two expresses arriving licre on Sunday experienced no troublo from this causc, but the third was delayed for oveir ail hour whilo repairs to .the break were being effected. Late last night the river in tho vicinity of Huntly 'was within a short distance of tho level of tho railway lino. "A VERY NARROW ESCAPE." ■ TRAVELLERS' HARDSHIPS. Auckland, July 26. Passengers by tlio second train which arrived yesterday state that the people on tho train which mot with the mishap two aucl three-quarter miles from Taumarumii on Friday last had a very, narrow escape. Fortunately tho drivers of the two engines drawing the tram— Doylo and Nicholson —noticcd that tho country was treacherous, and travelled over the dangerous part of the lino very slowly. When, tho engines wero midway across the culvert tho lino sank, and the two locomotives aiul tho mailvan wero thrown on their sides. No 0110 was injured. Tlio passengers paid a tribute to the drivers, whose careful driving, they said, was undoubtedly the means if averting a serious accident. Describing tlio experiences of passengers at Tauinarunui, Mr. B. W. Tewsley said tho of the accommoda-. tion houses wore very considerate in supplying tho wants of the jKople. and there were very few cases ol hardship. Passengers with through tickets wore allowed to sloop iu tho carriages. A good many persons had to stay at tlio boardinghouses. Several women found it difficult to obtain lodgings, and ono woman- with two children, and other women had to bo accommodated in the waiting-room at the Tauinarunui station. A number of soldiers on leave from the training camps were on' tlio train. Their uniform good humour considerably relieved the monotony of waiting for the lino to bo repaired. tn tho MMOBV fluwiial 1# it'-yelH' -Able iov maUgmt wofti ttonplftl