NELSON ELOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1929, Page 2

NELSON ELOODS

RAILWAY BRIDGE DAMAGED. NELSON, July 8. On Saturday evening and yesterday Motueka and the surrounding districts of Riwaka and lower Moutere experienced one of the largest floods for many years. Saturday night was a night long to be remembered. The peace of mind of many was upset by a severe earthquake felt shortly before six o’clock. Dpring the evening a strong wind, freshening to a’ gale, sprang up, bringing incessant rain, and at 9.30, owing to the quantity of water about, it was thought advisable to close the local power house. At, daylight on Sunday morning most of the northern and western sections of the borough were badly flooded and several families in the Waikarewa district and in the low-lying areas were forced to vacate their homes until the flood receded.

About 100 telephone subscribers lost communication with the office. Rain caused a large slip in the Takaka hills at the two-mile peg from Riwaka. The Moutere and Riwaka distrir also suffered considerably. A pier in the railway bridge at Waiiti was scoured out and the bridge given a slight cant. Passengers for Glenhope this morning transferred to a train on the other side of the bridge. It is hoped to effect temporary repairs by this evening.

A slip on the south end of the Kohatu tunnel was cleared in time for the train to pass. The railway line is under water for a long distance, but it is mostly surface water and no fur-: ther serious damage is reported. Another slip came down on the Glen-hope-Murchison' road, but was cleared in time to allow the service cars to pass this afternoon.