STORM IN BULLER GORGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 9

STORM IN BULLER GORGE

CLOUDBURST DAMAGES BRIDGE MANY CARS HELD UP Press Association WESTPORT, Today. Following 12 hours of heavy rain, a cloudburst occurred at Norris’s Mill, in the Buller Gorge, about six miles from Westport, late last night. The bridge over the Waimea C?eek buckled and the approaches to the bridge near the mill were badly scoured out. It is also reported that houses at the mill were flooded and the water pipe-lines carried away and that a big slip came down on the other side of the mill. Early cars from Westport to connect with the Christchurch express were unable to get through and the passengers were brought back to Westport. Cars are being brought down from Reefton and, by means of transhipping, it is hoped to get passengers through to Reefton, Greymouth and Nelson this afternoon. Workmen from the Tiroroa railway construction camp have been dispatched to the affected area to repair the damage. ’ Very boisterous weather still prevails, torrential rain falling, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Arrangements have been made to put a carriage on the night train from Greymouth to Christchurch and Westport, and passengers are being taken through to connect with this. Owing to the weather there has been no work on the waterfront since 10 a.m. yesterday.