THE HEAVY RAINS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4286, 5 December 1892, Page 2

THE HEAVY RAINS.

Slips on the Railway Line, Traffic Stopped, The railway lino is again blocked by ilipp, and passengers who left Masterton for Wellington this morning only proceeded by rail as far as Featherston, at which station the down train reversed its engino and returned to Masterton, subsequently going through to Ekotahuna. A coach was running over the ■ Rinmtaka Rang», but as it was quits uncertain whether there was a train on the other side to oonneot with it, several people who were desirous of reaching the Empire City, preferred tu come back and journey through the Forty-Mile Bush, and so reach Wellington via Faluierston and he Mariawatu Railway, It was understood that the hoaviest slip was near the mouth of tho long tunnel at the top ofthe hill, and that' there was no chance ol walking round the obstructions.' The train from Wellington whs supposed to have come up as far as Kaitoke, but no very definite information on that point or on any other was available for tho information of passengers in the Wairarapa train, and they were quite uncertain as to when they would get through. As a matter-of-fact in the case of obstructions on the line of the- character of slips, the Railway Department itself is often unable to determine when through traffic will be resumed, an the extent of work to be done in order to clear the line is not easily estimated. All that oan be done is to put plenty of men on, and announce a resumption of traffic directly it is apparent that it is safe to do so. _ The wool traffic will suffer considerably by the block, and as tho output of both timber and live stock have also been unusually brisk, considerable inconveniooce will be felt in their onse, too.

There were fortunately not very many passengers by this morning's train from Masterton,

[by telegraph,] Wellington, Monday. Yesterday's heavy rain brought down a couple of slips on the Wairarapa lino, causing a-suspension of traffic. One slip is near the mouth of the Summit tunnel, and the other is nbout a mile and a.quarter from the Summit Station on the Wellington side. The extent of the slip has not jet been ascertained, buttho Railway authorities do uot expect to have the line cleared until to-morrow,