SERIOUS SLIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 155, 2 July 1937, Page 8

SERIOUS SLIPS.

REPAIRS TO RAILWAY. SEVERAL DAYS' WORK. MAIL SERVICES MAINTAINED. With the cessation of the rain the Hood water* on the low-lying portions of land between Auckland and North Auckland began to recede early this mornhig. and by 11 o'clock the Automobile A-stK'iat inn (Auckland) was able to advise members that the main route to the Xorth wac clear for all motor traffic. The prospects for railway trallic. however, aro by no moans promising. Again to-day trains from Auckland ran only a* far as K'auka]>akaiia. Water on the line to a depth of lift at Hoteo and Way by barred further progress. In addition ttieru arc and washouts all the way to Whaugarei. Two works trains with scoria filling and beam-; for repair work aro operating from Whangaroi and Maungaturoto. and a further train from Helensville is working between there and Knipara Flats. Kepair.s are hold up until the flood water recedes. Stationmasters hnve been instructed not to accept poods for dispatch in order that an accumulation of freielit will not occur.

Prospects Not Bright. A* matters *tand at present it does not appear likely that the AucklandWhangarei line will be open for traffic again until after the week-end, stated a railway official at Auckland to-day. The main road to Whangarei is reported by tlip Automobile Association tfi be in fair order, with the exception of a large sli;> on Puhoi Hill. Public Works Department gangs, with mechanical shovels, were working on this to-day, and traffic had little difficulty in getting through. Service cars ran as usual. Every opportunity has been taken by tin- Post and Telegraph Department to maintain the mail services to Xorth Auckland. Both the Ronaki. which left Onehunga , for TTokianga. and the Claymore, left Auckland for Whnngarci. carried mails last night. To-day fn>t-class matter was sent by service cars to Whantrarci. Parcels and newspapers and other second-class matter was carried by train to TTelensville. thence by steamer to Bargaville, and then on asrain by motor to \Y liancrarei. From Whangarei lorries are distributing the mail as far ns possible. Further mail was dispatched to Hokiansa by the TTokiangn. which left from Onehnnga to-day. This was for Rnwene. Kobukolni and adjacent areas. In the vicinity of Hoteo and Wavby telephones were still out of order to-day. From f> a.m. on Wednesday to !) a.m. yesterday 5.27 inches of rain fell.