MONSTER SLIP

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1932, Page 8

MONSTER SLIP

\ -v• , j,t r ;-V ON OTIRA GORGE. 1 CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. Carrying away the Toad for .tan djsttance of a chain and a half, a slip occurred yesterday -oA the Arthur’s Rass-Otira highway,, near the Bridal Veil Fall, halfrway up the 'Westland slops. Traffic will be held up on the road for some time,' as the road has been completely wiped out, ariu- in addition the bridge over the Otira River, on the flat will be under repair for 'the next fortnight. No work can be undertaken on the slip. The slip occurred some time yesterday induced by the heavy rainfall over the past few days. The slip was no doubt air aftermath of the big earthquake' in 1929. In the opinion of the Public .Works Department engineer at Creyihouth (Mr ,A. J. Johnston), the ( work of reconstructing the road will bettboth costly and did.cult. Until he is able to see . what is left of the road after the slip has been cleared away lie will not be:able to say how the repairs may be effected. • AN AWKWARD SPOT. In close proximity' to a slip which occurred, some years ago, the present fall has come in an awkward spot. The Bridal Veil Fall comeE down a small cliff dni the inside of the road, crosses it, as- a ford ,-and then plunges over” a cliff some 100 ft high. Over this cliff they slip has carried the roadway into the ' Otira riverbed be.neath. ! ‘

No men will he sent to inspect the slip until it has’jceased to fall, and-in any'case they wll'not be able to.cross: the oLira' Itiyer bridge . witd lorries, as it is under/, repair, and will be for. the next twolweeks'.- The only,way to get to the slip at present, with the. necessaiy tools and apparatus, l is to ford the fiver, which is rfot possible at present. .... - - ; .if f: J ohns Lon said th... t lie would be going up'to have 1 a 1 look at the slip jan, but he did not know hoW the repairs were to be carried out. Wooden, defectors might have to be -erected over the piece of roadway affected b,. 1/he slip to keep the braiders and soil from falling,; on to 1 the workmen, or a new road might have to be made over the hill. He could not say how long the work would take, but it would certainly bp a, lengthy job. The 1 klip is dangerous to prdeslrians..