MANAWATU GORGE SLIPS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1926, Page 11

MANAWATU GORGE SLIPS

FURTHER TROUBLE FEARED NEW SUBSIDENCES TO BE BLASTED. LINE CLOSED INDEFINITELY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Nov. 17. Three engineers of the Railway Department, who inspected the blockage of the railway in the Manawatu Gorge yes. terday, decided, after full consideration of the position, to resort to explosives to remove the menace of a further great landslide which threatens the line a few chains on the Palmerston North side of the original avalanche. In connection with this decision one of the engineers in charge of the operations at the gorge said that so far as the original slip was concerned it could have been cleared by last week-end, but the greater menace of the new subsidence which had recently become apparent made it obvious that the line could not be reopened for traffic until this new development had been coped with. By yesterday aftesnoon the line along the length of the first landslide, whieh occurred over three weeks ago, was practically clear and it was considered that there was no further danger from the hillside at this point. The only damage to the track was a slight twisting of one rail, which was easily remedied. Before deciding yesterday to use explosives on the new subsidence whieh threatens, the engineers debated the question of shunting goods waggons over the line for a day so as to relieve any congestion and then go ahead with the plan to blow out the dangerous part. It was ascertained, however, that no serious congestion existed in the Palmerston yards, although the position at Cross Creek was different. It was then decided to close the line definitely for blasting operations from to-day until all is-again in order. The official interviewed stated that this would be for at least a fortnight.