DELUGE IN SOUTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1939, Page 7

DELUGE IN SOUTH

TRAIN SERVICES CRIPPLED PASSENGERS SPEND NIGHT IN CARRIAGE. FLOODING ON BRANCH LINES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, January 17. The most serious effect of the southern deluge is the crippling of train services, eight chains of line being completely washed out. near Waipahi. Thin was the section which held up the afternoon Christchurch-Invercargill express. The train arrived back at Dunedin at 1 a.m. and for those unable.to secure lodging the department afforded accommodation in a heated carriage, 23 passengers thus passing the night. Among these were a number journeying south to catch the Maunganui, but as the liner had been again delayed, they went south this afternoon. No traveller from south of Clinton can connect with the steamer express at Lyttelton tonight. Flooding has alsooccurred on the Tapanui, Clinton and Catlins branches.

The only power breaks in the city were through the collapse of lines to private houses, but the power was cut off in seaside districts on the north line, holiday residents being without light or cooking power till this morning. At Waipori power station the rainfall for the 24 hours to 9 o’clock this morning was 2.48 in. The Mahinerangi dam was nearly two feet over the crest. Telegraph lines to the north were all clear this morning but in Waiwera a south line pole is in the middle of the flood waters with the wire entangled and only one indirect telegraph route to Invercargill is available. express gets through. CONDITIONS IN INVERCARGILL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL. January 17. Though the wind continues at gale force. Invercargill is no longer isolated, lhe express having got through from Christchurch a little over an hour late. The flood waters which blocked the roads and railway are now receding but the forecast indicates that there might be a recurrence of flooding. Work is still impossible on the waterfront in Bluff and the sailing of the Maunganui for Melbourne has again been postponed for 24 hours.