FLOODS IN NELSON

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1930, Page 6

FLOODS IN NELSON

RAILWAY HOLD UP

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

NELSON, April 9.

Last night there was extremely heavy rain in the country on the Motueka side, and as far back at Tapawera, causing floods to rise over tho road in the Moutere, and slips on the railway line near Spooner’s Range. There was a downpour all night on the Spooner’s Range area: A large slip coining out of the gully on the Tapawera side of the tunnel under Spooner’s Range into the cutting immediately at the entrance, blocked the tunnel. The rain has continued heavily, and the water has now backed up into the tunnel.

The Nelson-Ivawatiri train which left'. Nelson this morning at 7.45 o’clock, is still at Belgrove, waiting for the line to ho cleared. Large gangs are working on the slip.

There are also other smaller slips on the line from the far end of the tunnel to Ivohatu. The service cars between Nelson and Motueka returned to their starting points this morning, after going to the vicinity of the Jubilee bridge, where there was eight fdet of water over the road. Heavy rain fell in this district last night, and it has abated little'to-day. All of the countryside in lower Moutere is flooded. A number of the houses are surrounded, but so far no families have had occasion to leave their homes.

Advice has been received that the Belgrove end of the tunnel ba:s been completely blocked by a large slip that came down this afternoon. A relief gang train has been sent out to work on the slip, but at present the extent of the Lslip known. The road is flooded and blocked by slips at the* foot of Spooner’s Range and in Belgrove, and no traffic is expected through from the Murchison end to-day.