FLOOD DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1927, Page 1

FLOOD DAMAGE

SIZE OF SLIP. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) AUCKLAND, July 27. An examination of the slip at Paernta shows that about eleven thousand tons of earth was brought down. To maintain the services, a temporary track was laid to-night over the top of the debris. The passengers by to-niglit’s main trunk expresses were conveyed from Drury to Paerata by motorbus anil taxi. The passengers arriving from Wellington by the express to-morrow morning will have to be dealt with in the same way, but a temporary railway may lie useable by that time for the later provincial trains. It is thought the temporary line will have to be used for a month. The idea is to gradually remove the debris from under the temporary rail until the original level is reached.

PRISONER ESCAPES. AUCKLAND. July 27. Taking advantage of the confusion which reigned after the passengers had been transhipped at Karaka Cutting this morning, a prisoner escaped from the. train at Puhintii. The escaped man is William Seholes, who was on his way. under escort, with othei prisoners, from Wellington to Mount Eden gaol. After the passengers got into the relief train at the Auckland end of Karaka slip, all the available accommodation was taken up. -Many passengers were collected at all the small stations on the way to Auckland. At Puhinui near Papatoetoc, Seholes took advantage ol the crowded train to make a break for liberty.

A search party is out. Seholes is an English labourer, aged 36 years. Up to a late hour to-night there was no trace of the prisoner Seholes, who escaped from custody on the train at Puhinui this morning.

RAIN IN OTAGO. DUNEDIN. July 27

Steady rain continued to fall on Dunedin and the outlying districts today and all roads are in an unusally bad condition.

Tho slip on the Otago Central Railway line, near Hindoo, together with the swollen creek waters on the roadways, has prevented travellers from reaching Dunedin, either by rail or motor car. It is, however, anticipated that conditions will improve to-mor-row. A train will’ leave Dunedin during tho morning in an attempt to roach Cromwell, and a down train from Cromwell is expected to reach here m the evening.

Three minor slips occurred on Dunedin hill streets, hut these caused no concern, and are speedily being repaired. The Outran! railway line was flooded tin’s morning, but it is hoped that the ordinary time-table can he resumed tomorrow.