LINE STILL BLOCKED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 6

LINE STILL BLOCKED

SECOND SLIP IN MANAWATU GORGE RAIL SiLRVICE DISORGANISED From Our Oicn Correspondent PALMERSTON N., Friday. As the result of a further slip in the Manawatu Gorge this afternoon, when 1,000 tons of rock crashed down from a cliff face, burying the line, the railway service has again been disorganised. It is estimated that 1,500 tons of rock was involved in the big slip which came down just past the Gorge station on the Palmerston North side of the Gorge ou Thursday morning. A gang of 50 men and two work trains worked all through last night to clear the blockage and by 3.30 this afternoon the track was clear again. However, a quarter of an hour later a fall of loose stones and an ominous movement showed that the trouble was not yet past, and sure enough another large mass of rock, loosened by the two previous slips, crashed down, burying the railway line under a huge mass of debris and spilling over into the river. The workmen immediately turned to again and night shifts worked all night to try and clear the line as speedily as possible. It is hoped that all railway services will be resumed on Monday: in the meantime the Napier-Wellington and Weliing-ton-Napier expresses are running via the Wairarapa, and passengers for Auckland, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Manawatu trains are being transhipped and conveyed by motor-bus and car between Woodville and Palmerston North. Fifteen cars brought about 80 wool buyers, who had been attending the Napier sale, into Palmerston North, where they connected with tonight's Limited express for Auckland.