TRAFFIC BLOCKED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 December 1939, Page 8

TRAFFIC BLOCKED

ROAD AND RAIL SERVICES DISORGANISED TORRENTIAL RAIN IN HUTT VALLEY. BRIDGE AT TE MARUA COLLAPSES i . Following torrential rai.n which fell in the Hutt River basin yesterday, serious road and railway blockages have occurred on the main communication routes between Wellinglon and Alasterfon on the Wellington side of the Rimntaka Ranges and in consequence Muster) on was ent off from direct access to the capital city last evening and this morning. It was announced last night by the Railways Department that until further notice, all rail traffic to the Wairarapa would be suspended on account of line interruptions between Mangaroa and Cross Creek while this morning it was ascertained that the main highway over the Rimutakas was blocked at Plateau Corner, Te Mania, where the bridge over the Mangaroa Stream had collapsed, while there were many slips on the Rimutakas. It appears that a large slip came down at the foot of the Rimntaka Hill Road on the Wellington side between 2 and 3 o’clock this morning, completely blocking the road. Another slip about a mile further up the hill came down yesterday afternoon, but cars were able to got past. Many other slips have occurred on the road, but as far as can be ascertained none of these are serious. The collapse of the new bridge at Plateau Corner has effectively blocked the highway at this point, though the old bridge further up stream is still intact and it is possible that this may be strengthened sufficiently to enable light traffic to use it.

MODIFIED MOTOR SERVICE. A modified service is being run today between Masterton and Wellington by Jenkins’s Motor Services, Ltd? A car was despatched from Masterton at 9 a.m. and arrangements had been made for it to be met by another car at the slip at present blocking the road. Passengers are to be transhipped there to the other car. The old bridge at Plateau Corner at Te Mania will be used, though it is understood that this structure is not onen for use by the public. It is hoped to despatch other car this afternoon. SERVICE CARS RUNNING. Latest advices indicate that it is hoped to run service cars this afternoon without the necessity of transhipping passengers at the slip. The normal service will be resumed tomorrow. RAILWAY BLOCKAGE. SLIPS BETWEEN THE SUMMIT AND KAITOKE. Passengers by the train which left Masterton yesterday at 2 p.m. for Wellington did not arrive at Wellington until about 10 p.m. They had to be transhipped at the site of a line blockage. The railcar which left Wellington at 6 p.m. for Masterton could not proceed beyond Upper Hutt and the passengers returned to Wellington.

No very definite information could be gained from the Railways Department this morning as to when the service over the Rimutaka Hill would be resumed. A more or less normal service is being run from Cross Creek northwards. The railway is blocked by a number of slips between the Summit and Kaitoke. Yesterday afternoon the Wellington-bound mail train was held at Featherston and the passengers were conveyed by road to Kaitoke. where they connected with another train for Wellington. A similar procedure was adopted with passengers by the rail-car which left Wellington about 3 o’clock. These passengers reached Masterton at 9 o’clock last night. A goods train from Wellington to the Wairarapa was held up at 11 a.m. yesterday by a washout on the line between Kaitoke and The Summit, and it was prevented from returning to Kaitoke by a slip which came down behind it. The slip was not cleared till 8.30 p.m.

NO THROUGH TRAFFIC TODAY. It is unlikely that through rail traffic between Cross Creek and Upper Hutt will be resumed today. There is a serious washout at one end of the Mungaroa Bridge and it will be necessary to put in another forty foot span. Other washouts, besides slips, have occurred between Kaitoke and the Summit. Rain has now ceased.

WAIRARAPA DISTRICT ESCAPES FURY OF STORM. NO STOCK LOSSES REPORTED. The Wairarapa district escaped the fury of the storm and although minor Hooding occurred in some low-lying areas only one or two settlement roads are blocked nor arc any stock losses reported. As far as the district as a whole is concerned practically no damage was done, although rivers and creeks are in high flood. Dalefield in all low-lying parts is still inundated by water and tn some instances to a great extent. The largevolume of storm water and a heavy downpour in the ranges caused all the small creeks as well as the larger streams to overflow, with the result that the Dalefield Road near the cheese factory is covered by a wide sheet of water. The Kaipatangata at Dalefield is in a high state of flood and the approach to the bridge has been washed out. County workmen are doing what ’hey can to assist through traffic in this vicinity. Water from the converging Maungatiriri River and the Waiohinc is still running over the main highway near the Waiohinc Bridge but traffic is able to negotiate the highway. Some of the Swamp Road settlers arc I completely isolated and it is understood they were unable to get their mill: supply to the Dalcfield factory this morning. Others were unable to get to the main road, but were able to go by way of Matarawa. a much longer journey. The southern end of Lincoln Road is well under water, the Maungatiriri

having overflowed its banks and a vast sheet of water envelops Mr P. Hodder’s property in this vicinity. The mad leading from Mr M. J. Parker's property and other settlers is deep under water, but not sufficient to prevent milk being supplied to factory. In iact this is the first time this road has been inundated since the big storm some five or six years ago. Farmers in the Victoria Road and western end of Brooklyn Road were unable to go by tneir usual route to Dalefield factory this morning on account of heavy flooding and the washout of the approach to the Kaipatangata bridge. They had to go by way of Lincoln Road and even then were faced with difficulties.

Upper Carrington settlers report all creeks in a high state of flood, but the bridges in this locality have not suffered, but slips have occurred on the hilly roads. One farmer at Dalefleld, Mr K. G. I Fairbrother, was unable to use his cow bails last evening and again this morning, as his whole place was under water. He had to drive his dairy herd to a neighbour's yards, Mr J. A. Ordish, to be milked. At Belvedere the Maungateriri stream is running very high, but so far the water has not reached the high levels of some years ago. This is due to the fact that the bed of the river has considerably deepened and there is a better get-away for the water, beneath the bridge. Kokotau has not fared so badly from flood water. The Ruamahanga, although in flood and carrying a great volume of water, did not come over its banks. Storm water, however, is lying in all directions but does not seriously effect communication. Mr J. A. Roberts, of Carrington, reports that the total rainfall taken by I him in the Carrington district during the past two days totals 3.64 inches. The fall from Sunday afternoon until 6.45 a.m. on Monday was 1.62 inches and from Monday morning until 6.45 a.m. this morning 2.02 inches fell. It is still raining and it looks as if a fall of over 4 inches will be registered for 3 days. The fall, although heavy, is very welcome to farmers and although hay crops may be spoiled in some localities the benefit of the warm rain will do hundreds of pounds worth of good to the Wairarapa. A fall of 6.87 inches was recorded at Te Wharau by Mr F. C. H. Cotter since 9 o’clock on Sunday night. For the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday. 3.10 inches were registered, and for the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. this morning a further 3.77 inches fell. The rivers of the district are in heavy flood, but only small slips have occurred on the roads, and no stock has been lost. Mr A. Cameron, Mauriceville, reports that 2.09 inches of rain fell in the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. this mom- ■ ing.

HUTT VALLEY greatest flood for many YEARS. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE REPORTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The greatest flood within living memory, swept the Hutt Valley yesterday afternoon and last night, covering hundreds of acres, isolating houses, flooding and making roads impassable, destroying and damaging bridges, and drowning large numbers of stock. At high tide yesterday. 5.30 p.m.. the normally calm Hutt River was a surging torrent from 100 yards, within the stopbanks, to a mile wide across country. The terrific rush of water created breakers as formidable as those on an ocean beach. Dead stock, large trees and huge quantities of debris were swept irresistibly downstream smashing through fences and any obstacles en route. There was near tragedy on the Mangaroa Valley Road when a house was undermined and shifted 12 feet off its foundations by a landslide. The only occupants at the time were a child and a young woman. The young woman heard the ominous creak of the threatening landslide and rushed the child to safety in the nick of time. The house was shifted off its foundations, the chimneys put down and the place made generally uninhabitable. The bridge at Maoribank, usually 20 feet clear, was awash with waves and a tree crashed on to it. removing some upper deck piping. So extensive was the flooding that at one point at Silverstream the entire flat between the hills forming the valley was one vast I sheet of turbulent water, fences and roads being invisible. The new concrete two-way bridge on the main Wellington-Wairarapa road at the foot of the Mangaroa Hill has sagged in the centre, and last night was negotiable at the risk of users. Many bridges were affected in the Whiteman's and Mangaroa Valley areas, while on the Akatarawa Gorge Road, which is impassable for traffic, bridges suffered considerably, and I there wore slips at frequent intervals.