DISASTROUS CLOUDBURST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 140, 31 October 1912, Page 5

DISASTROUS CLOUDBURST.

NEAR ASIIJiURTOX.

KAIL WAY TRAFFIC IMPEDED. * '

Tdl.grsph.-Pre* ftirtttwtim ' Ashburton, Last Night. A cloud burst occurred at Ealing, on the Ashburton banks of the Rnmrit-ata River, and 20 miles south of Ashbuxtoo at about 3.30 this afternoon, and, as a' result the whole countryside for a radiug of about two miles was flooded with water, which rose in many paddocks and roads to a depth of from three to five feet. The deluge lasted about hall on hour, and the damage to land and crops must be considerable, while standing timber, etc., was carried away. The water soon ran in torrents over the banks of the railway cutting where the line descends to the Rangitata railway .bridge. played havoc with the banks, corrugating and tearing them .badly for fully ii hundied yards. The shingle soon submerged the rails and the flood waters converged at the foot of the cutting in the two-chain open embankment between tiie banks and the beginning of the bridge proper. The force of the heavy volume destroyed the embankment totally for Ave or six yards, and for all practical purposes for the whole two chains. In the central part the rails and sleepers were left hanging over a gap seven feet deep. The second express from South was stopped at Rangitata and the goods tram from the North at Ealing, and local maintenance gangs immediately set to work to clear, tne Tine. A relief train from Ashburton reached the scene at 9.30, and passengers and an , d '"ggage were transhipped from one train to another. A good staff of men were now on the scene.

.... , . Ashburton, Later. Although it will take about a week to repair the permanent way, through traffic will be resumed to-morrow bv diverting the line. J The full extent of the damage cannot be ascertained till daylight.