TRAINS DISORGANISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 9

TRAINS DISORGANISED.

SLIPS AND WASHOUTS

FLOODS IN THAMES VAEEEY. SUSPENSION OF SERVICES. LINES UNDER WATER. Rail communication between Auckland and the East Coast has been interrupted by floods and slips at points along the line. Te Aroha. was to-day the limit of communication. Since yesterday through goods and passenger services have been suspended. Although none of the slips and washouts are reported to be of an extensive nature train traffic has been temporarily disabled. Flooding was reported this morning between Omokoroa and Apata, on the Paeroa-Tauranga section of the line, and it was anticipated that the blockage would not be cleared for six hours. Between Karangahake and Owharo;i, on the Paeroa-Waihi line, there were two slips of fifty yards each in the vicinity of Mangaiti and Tirohia, and a culvert was also washed away. Yesterday along this section the swirling flood waters were steadily rising. Breakdown gangs were promptly sent from Te Aroha and Paeroa as soon as the trouble developed, but they found the work difficult while the flood was at its height. Between Owharoa and Waikino a slip of fifty yards occurred, and between Waikino and the Waihi Rivers the line was covered by two feet of water. The latest reports stated that the level of the flood was steadily falling. Throughout the night there was heavy rain over a large area, but the weather cleared by 9 a.m. to-day. All trains between Paeroa and Tauranga up to midday to-day were cancelled. This morning's reports stated that the flood has risen between Te Aroha and Paeroa and that the water was two feet deep on the rails for a distance of over a mile. A slip occurred on the Glen Afton branch line from Huntlv last night, but was cleared by 11.30 p.m. At another part of the same line, between Pukemiro and Rotowaro, there was a further slip this morning, which was quickly cleared. The 8.45 a.m. daily express for Tauranga left Auckland as usual, but it was not expected to get beyond Te Aroha to-day. A train from Te Aroha will be due at Auckland at ."> o'clock, replacing the Tauranga-Auckland ex-