HEAVY RAIN CAUSES FLOODS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 27, 27 October 1920, Page 6

HEAVY RAIN CAUSES FLOODS

RAILWAY TRAFFIC'INTERRUPTED

SLIPS NEAR PALMERSTON AND

AT MANGAWEKa

Br Telejrapli-Hoocial Correspondent. Woodville, October 26. I'loods have been experienced turoughout tlie Munawatu district toJay. Heavy rain continued all last night and to-day, and the rivers roe, submerging aIL lowlying lands in tne vicinity. tfaiu waa u.so experienced up the line. Early this morning tlie down Main Trunk express ran into a small slip at itangaweka, and got through to Palluersion North eight hours late. The second however, was less fortunate, and the engine ran into a big eiip at Mangaweka, which almost buried • tho engine. and derailed one carnage. The passengers, fortunately escaped Tinhurt. The train eventually reached ilarton soiuu hours late, and had to wait until the mud could be got off the engine before an examination could be made. The train reached Palmerstou. North at 1 p.m

Tho early morning train from Wood-' ville to Wellington was stopped by a slip ju.st iwst Whakaronga, about sir fyilt'S from and had to return. The 11.30 a.m. train for the Wairarapa was not dispatched, ajld passengers for that place went in the Napier express. This was stuck up by the slip at Wliakaronga, and the passengers, of whom there was a large number (including tho members of Williamson's "Bing Boys" Company, en route to Hastings) had a weary wait for three hours, in heavy rain. After walking over the slip to wait for the down Napier express to pick them up, many cammed under trees, and a big bonfire was lighted, around, wjiich womeii and children gathered in the hopo of getting warm and (Irving' their clothes. Tlie down train had been delayed by a slip on the Woodville side of the Gorge. It was after 5 o'clock when tho up train made a start, and just after getting through the Gorge it was stuck up by big crocks which had fallen on the line. As the gang who. had cleaned the previous block at tha tame place had left, the train had t<? stand there while they were sent for... Just as the relief gang arrived, another big rock, weighing some tons, came down,. completely blocking the line, and the train had to lemain where it was. Many_ of the passengers walked on the three miles to Woodville, while others got in taxi 9 which were soon on the scene.

1 During the morning a huge tree came down across the traffic road through tha Gorge, and several motor-cars were .stuck up till the tree was cut through. Later' in the day, however, several slips came down, completely' stopping all traffic. As seen from the train, the Manawatu. River Mow the Gorge looked a perfect sea, covering hundreds of acres of land. Coming through the Gorge it was a raging torrent, and old identities averred that tha flood was the highest since 19M. On. the Woodville side of the Gorge tha river had risen and spread over a large area of land. A tremendous lot of timber was being? sent through the Gorjje, and it is evident that, a gfeat deal of damago will be done to orops and grass The road lietween Woodville and Dannetirke is blocked, the water being sir feet over the road at Maharahara. No trains will leave Woodville to-night, but it is hoped' to resume communication between there and Napier and the Wairarapa in the morning.

MANAWATU DIVER FLOODED, By l'oltjr&plj—Presi AißOtlatlon-

Palmerston North, October 26. Heavy rains have been experienced throughout the Manawatu district during the last 21 hours. All the livers are in Hood. The rainfall for the 21 hours ended at 9 o'clock this morning was 2.3 inches, the heaviest recorded for six years. The temperature dropped during the 24 'hours from 01 to 4.1 degrees. It is still raining, with a cold wind.

LIKE BLOCKED AT MANGAWEICA By Telegraph-Press AißQCiation, Taihape, .October 26.. Ifeixy vain yesterday * wild to-day caused some small slips to com© down on, tho railway between Mangaweka and Taihape. One slip north of Mangaweka completely blocked tho lino for about ten hours, but it has now been cleared. The night express from Auckland leit hero eight hours late, and the ordinary express from Auckland three hours late. Tho night express from Wellington was held up at Mangaweka .for six hours. The slips liave been cleared and traflio resumed.

Tho heavy tain of a few weeks ago caused damage in the Rangitifcei County to the extent of over ,£3500.

AN ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY

Mr. G. Hunter, M.P, the Hon. W. H. [ Triggs, M.L.C., and Mrs. Triggs, Mr. A> M'Nicol, M.P., and Mr. 0. Hawkeu, , M.P., and Mrs. Hawken, who had been spending the week-end in Hawke's Bay, returned to 'Wellington last evening, after a somewhat adventurous journey. The! party arrived at Woodville by train and found that the line had been blocked' by a slip near Ashhurst. They engaged, two motor-cars, and travelled by road to Palmerston North. They found the road through the Manawatu Gorge very slippery from tho heavy rain, and obstructed, in two or three places by . slips. It' took the united strength of the men of the party at one point to move a rook that had fallen from tho cliff. A fallen tree at another point presented even greater difficulty. The party reached Palmerston in time to catch a special train which had been dispatched from Marton to bring on passengers from Auckland, anil arrived in Wellington without further mi6hap. When rearing Ashhurst the motorists saw the alio which had blocked the line. Many passengers, mon, women, and children, were standing in the rain with their luggage, having alighted from the Wellington train to await the arrival of a train from Woodville that was to take them on to Napier. The river iu the Gorge was higher than it has been for very many, years.

LINE REPORTED CLEAR. As a result of a landslip yesterday near Mangaweka, caused by tho heavy rains, the night express from Auckland was delayed, and left Taihape over three hours late. Between Overton and Martoil Junction, another small slip was encountered, and the train, which ordinarily arrives .in Wellington at 1.8, p.m., did not rcacli Thorndon until 6.45 p.in . Tho line is now reported clear, and the 12 45 p.m. express for Auckland was able to proceed at scheduled time yesterday. The Napier express did not arrive In Wellington until 9 p.m. yesterday, owing to delay near Palmerston. Normal conditions prevail on the Wairarapa line.