SOUTHERN WEATHER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2240, 11 July 1908, Page 2

SOUTHERN WEATHER.

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION MORE INTERRUPTIONS. [Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. Another interruption has taken placo in tho overland wires leading to the North Island at a point between Kekerangu and Blenheim, ’i lie whole of‘the five wires were down this morning, the break being earned presumably by u heavy fall of snow :.i tho locality. The repairing gang, however, were quickly on the spot, and earVy in the afternoon had two or three wires temporarily connected up, and it is expected that the remaining three will be joined up this afti moon. The break between Wai ill a d Kaikoura lias been restored by M.v Shrimpton, chief electrician, and his stall’, and the whole of the fivo wires were working satisfactorily wlten the interruption further north occurred. The wire to Greymouth, over which a large quantity of North Island work was sent while the direct service was interrupted, also broke down early this afternoon between fVoolston and Sheffield, but it is anticipated that the trouble will bo 'remed.cd in the course of an hour or so. To-day’s interruptions have resulted in another accumulation of work, but that will be dealt with without difficulty when the breaks are repaced, With oiio exception all the northern overland wires thrown out of circuit by the breakdown which occurred north of Kekerangu have been repaired, and the remaining wire will be connected up to-morrow. DUNEDIN, July 10. The flood on the Taieri Plain lias subsided four feet. The railway south is clear as far as Allantou, to which trains run passengers, thence by- coach along the flooded road to Waihola, where trains wait. The railway between Allantou and Wailiola is badly damaged. The loss of stock is very considerable, but tho extent of the losses cannot yet bo even approximately estimated.

Most of the Plain is still covered with water, surrounding a- multitude of inaccessible islands, where cattle mav have sheltered.

lie nicy and Otakaia are still partially submerged, and a good deal of damage has been done to property. All the largo bridges are safe, but the approaches to most of the small ones are more or Jess damaged. Part of the approach to the West Taieri bridge was washed away, The water is running away rapidly, and the flood is abating. ' Serious damage has been done to tho railway and telegraph lines on tho Otago Central, and probably it will take a great deal to effect repairs. There is still about two feet of snow near Ranfurly. The trains on Wednesday had a trying experience. iA - goods train stuck in four feet of snow near Rough Ridge, and nearly two hours later another train with 12 passengers, including a couple on their honeymoon, tried to push through, but both got embedded. A ballast engine was sent to the relief, but it got no nearer than a quarter of a mild off. Finally tho passengers struggled back in the ballast engine, arriving at Rough Ridge at 2 a.m. on Thursday. The bride fainted from exhaustion.

On Thursday tho passenger traiii got out of the snow and returned to Hough Ridge, but the goods train engine in milling out left tho rails and is still derailed. To-day men started shovelling three feet of snow off six miles of line between Wedderburn and the engine. At Naseby to-day. a. party was busily engaged in digging isolated people of out the snow. It is reported that near Kyeburn there is six feet of snow. Alexandra is completely isolated, and 1 there is probably a. considerate loss of stock on the high country. Snow has ceased falling at Naseby, and the coach driver got the mails through to Ranfurly on horseback for the first time in three days. The mail and railway services are practically restored, but the Outran) lino is still blocked. The acting-chairman of the Taieri Drainage Board lias sent a telegram to tho Minister for Lands to-night asking for a Government advance of £IOOO to effect repairs in the eni-. bankments, which have given way in seven places, the Board being without funds at present.

RAILWAY LINE REPAIRED. SLOW TRAFFIC. [Press Association.] TIMARU, July 10. The numerous minor wash-outs have been temporarily repaired, and tho worst damage in the district through the eating away of the north bank of the Waihao river has been got over by a temporary extension of tho bridge. Most of the damaged lino its now sound, and the trains have to be hauled by light engines and taken slowly over the soft places. The last express from Dunedin was about an hour late here. The \Duntroou branch is badly damaged, and there has been no traffic on it since Tuesday, and there probably will be none to-morrow. A storm culvert on 'Like Wainoiio at the outlet of tho Waihao and other streams to tho bench has been carried away.