FLOOD DAMAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1922, Page 4

FLOOD DAMAGE.

SIVIPS* ON RAhl'W-VY MNE,

(Grey Stab). The heavy liiiiV fihiffi commented early on Monday morning continued practically without intermission until Tuesday night, and during a period of 52 lioifrs tlie" fall' recorded by the Grey Harbour Board iiiktrumenls was 9.27 inches. This is unifsiial', even foi* tbe M r Vst fco'a'st, in January, aild‘ the last t\Vo days' are stated' to have been the Worst ever known' in' January. A noticeable feature is that the raM'alf occurred at (jlrcympilth and iii its immecli'ate vicinity oiVly, I'ittlt* or no rain beiViVr experienced in tlie up-coilntry district's'.

ThV'ce sli'ps occurred' oh Tuesday evening on the road' between Onioto and Grey,mouth. The Borough Engineer (Mf W. J. O’DoiVnell)' was notified by file station staff about 11 p.m. niicV Weiit out to' the scene. He found tlVa't there was sufficient room on the road f6r motor cars' to pass, and it was therefore Annccessarj* to bring workmen from to'\Vn last night. Yesterday all the Borough Workmen available were employed in clearing the slips, and it is hoped to complete the work l)y tonight. tn tlie meantime the road is passable for traffic. Mr O’Donnell estimated' that the cost of removing the debris oii the road would amount to £100 ! .. - '

The ordin'n iy train Ironi Reef foil to 6reynioiit.li on Tuesday evening, which was delayed on account of the races, ail'd’ which should have arrived at Grc-y----n joi ifh at 9.35 p.m'., was held up by a slip, between Onioto and GrcymouLh. Tlie train, which was conveying a large number of* passengers and a number of horse boxes, was unable to proceed, and the passengers had to make the best of their way into town by road, an unpleasant undertaking in the darkness and niud, with heavy rain falling. A niVmber of motor-cars went out from town and brought in some of the passengers, after some anxiety caused by other slips on the, road. The Railway staff did everything possible to aid the passengers in passing the slip. The racehorses were left on the train all night and were brought in by road next morning.

The slip occurred in a cutting, making the removal of the debris difficult. Trouble was experienced- at tlie same place some years ago. The line is clear at the’ spot where a subsidence occurred about six months ago, and this place gave no trouble last night. Other small slips occurred on the line, but were passed by-the train at reduced speed. The first race train from Reefton got through to Greymoutli all light, but the majority of those who attended the races returned hime by the second train, wlricli was held up.

The trains to Ngahere, Blackball, and Reefton. also a special tin in conveying racehorses, returning to the East Coast’, were unable to run this morning. Tlie passengers from the Otira and Reefton lines were brought as far as Omoto yesterday morning, completing the journey to Greymoutli bv road. A' special train left Onioto at 11.30 a. lll. conveying passengers and mails for Blackball and Reefton.

The Railway Department had a gang of men and a special train working at the slip since daylight yesterday, and traffic was resumed yesterday afternoon.

The daily service to Christchurch during the holidays ceased on Tuesday. Had there been a train for Christchurch yesterday morning, it would also have been helcf up by tlie slip.