RAILWAY BLOCKED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21236, 7 August 1934, Page 12

RAILWAY BLOCKED

SLIPS ON THE WEST COAST SNOW FALLS AT METHVEN ' Very heavy rain fell on the West Coast during the week-end and a serious slip blocked the GreymouthRewanui line. It was hoped to have it clear by yesterday evening, but as the heavy rain continued through the day it was feared that the linemight not be open till this morning. The slip, which occurred in a soft papa rock face between Dunollie and Runanga, covered about 200 yards of the line. The Public Works Department at Greymouth yesterday morning was advised that the Otira Gorge road was temporarily blocked for traffic, but was expected to be reopened today. The south-west storm broke over Canterbury in the middle of the morning and cold intermittent showers of rain swept over the province. At Methven about six hours of heavy rain mixed with sleet fell, and the ranges were thickly coated with snow. Neither floods nor other damage were reported. The weather cleared in the evening and a sharp frost set in. Snow also gathered round the Hilltop, though it was | only a very light powdering. All over the province the morning was bright and sunny, with a litjht breeze from the nor'-west. The change came earlier in the southern districts and the cold wind did not reach Culverden til! after midday and Kaikoura till 2 p.m. In the sameway the weather was later in clearing iu the north, but in most places the evening sky was starry, with heavy frosts general.