DAMAGE TO THE RANGITATA RAILWAY BRIDGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5540, 30 December 1878, Page 3

DAMAGE TO THE RANGITATA RAILWAY BRIDGE.

{From the Timaru Herald, December 28.) Once more that wonderful example of engineering skill—the Kangitata railway bridge —has suffered considerable damage by floods, and been rendered, for a time at least, utterly useless for goods traffic purposes. The hot nor’-wester of Thursday night had the usual effect—melting masses of the winter’s accumulated snow, and causing it to bo discharged in volumes of water down the Kangitata Kiver. On the early train from Ashburton yesterday morning arriving at the north end of tho main bridge, there was no appearance of anything being wrong, and it accordingly proceeded to cross in that slow and cautious manner which has wisely been deemed necessary ever since the floods of three or four months back. When the train had reached tho last span but one on this side of the bridge over the river proper, the engine was suddenly felt to sink, and the driver, seeing at once that there was imminent danger of going through, reversed it, and returned back to tho north aide. It was certainly very fortunate that he did so, as it afterwards turned out; the chances of the train bringing up beneath tho boiling waters of the Kangitata, had he proceeded further, were very groat. The state of affairs at tho bridge was immediately wired to Mr. Jones, the District Station Master at Timara, who ordered tho up-train from hero, which waif waiting at Orari for that from Ashburton, to proceed on to South Kangitata, and get the passengers across the river if possible. On arrival at the river it was found that none of tho northern passengers, five in number, had teen allowed to cross, owing to the shaky state of the bridge. However, the southern passengers—about twenty all told—wore sent over by trolly or on foot, and those from the north fvoijght frock. Daring tho rest of the day the

admirable arrangements made by Hr. Jones ■prevented mfioh delay occurring to the passengers and mails, special trains being despatched t« bridge over the space between the express trains. Our reporter visited tbo Rangitata about six o’clock last evening. He found comparatively little water in the creek, while in the main stream the volume, although great, was nothing to be compared to that of the previous two floods. The water was then going down rapidly, and had fallen six or eight inches during the afternoon. On reaching the south approach to the main bridge a dip of between two and three inches was noticeable in the rails at the further end of the first span, while the line, as far as the eye could see, presented a very wavy .appearance. A closer examination showed that the first row of piles from the embankment had been * completely undermined, and were apparently hanging clear of the bottom. They were swaying and swinging about in the current, and were only kept together by the strong sheeting and by the framework and planking of the upper part of the bridge. As he walked along the bridge, our reporter states ho felt the whole concern trembling visibly, although the current was really nothing extraordinary. The damage to the span in question was evidently caused by the approach_ turning the stream, and thereby throwing it with full force at right angles to the bridge, and fair against the sheet-piling. The piles themselves seem only to have been driven a foot or two into the shingle, and, of course, as soon ns this was scoured away, they were left hanging. During the afternoon the span in the middle of the bridge, which was injured by the previous flood, and which was in course of repair, again gave way, and the piles were left clear of the bed of the river. It will take a week at least to strengthen the bridge sufficiently for heavy goods traffic; and in the meantime the ' business community must suffer accordingly. Passengers may cross in safety in the meantime, and the trains from Timarn will bo run to as near the proper time as possible. An almost general hope is expressed that the bridge may be swept away entirely before any lives, are lost; and while we hardly share in this sweeping desire, yet wo are fully convinced that until a new structure takes the place of the present one, there will be no safety to life, or hope of a continuity of train running. .