SLIPS NEAR TAIHAPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 235, 1 October 1920, Page 5

SLIPS NEAR TAIHAPE.

CAUSED RY HEAVY FLOODS. RAILWAY LINE DAMAGED. ! ALL TRAFFIC SUSPENDED. '-. (By Telesraph.^—Special to "Star.") TALHAPE. this day. An exceptionally heavy fall of rain throughout Tailiape district last night caused the highest floods in the memory, of old settlers. There are several landslips on the Main Trunk railway south of Taihape, between Utiku and "Mangaweka, two washouts between Mangaweka and Hunterville,' also a big land slide on the railway between Taihape and Mataroa. The express from Auckland is held at Hihitahi. The night express from Auckland reached Taihape, but cannot proceed further till slips are removed and the line repaired. A goods train from the South got through, but the axle boxes of th 6 guard's van were stripped off by striking debris. . The worst obstruction is between Taihape and Mataroa, as a slip completely covered the line and damaged . the rails. • All railway services are suspended. It is understood that the express which left Wellington on Thursday at midday got safely through. Taihape borough electric power was seriously damaged by a washed out tree falling from a bank' down fifty feet and smashing a part of the electric cables. The damage cannot be repaired till late in the day, rendering publication.of the local newspaper impossible. Rivers and watercourses are overflowing in every direction.