RAIN ON COAST.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 23 November 1925, Page 8

RAIN ON COAST.

GREY RIVER IN FLOOD. WASHOUT ON RAILWAY LINE. (special to '"tax raxss.'') GREYMOUTH, November 22. Torrential rains hare been experienced on the Coast, causing a big washout on the Grey-Otira line. On Friday the weather, which vtas threatening m the evening, grew worse towards midnight, and steady rain set in, accompanied by a north-westerly wind, ami continued incessantly until this morning, when conditions moderated slightly. Thick misty showers Jell intermittently -until noon, when the weather cleared. The Grey River was in high flood to-day, and many portions of the low-lying country in the vicinity of Greymouth, including portions of Coal Creek Flat, Omoto racecourse, and Kaiata were inundated. There is a nine knot ran in the river. For the twenty-four hours previous to nine o'clock this morning the rainfall recorded at Greymouth was 2.37 inches. The steamer Alexander, timber-laden for Motueka, is thb only vessel in port, and as the flood waters were rapidly subsiding this evening, it is possible that conditions will be normal by tomorrow. Owing to reports of washouts on the Grey-Moana road, a visit of inspection was made this afternoon by Mr J. Higgins (County Engineer), who found the road undamaged. Line' Washed Out. The heavy rains yesterday and the backing of the flood waters caused a big washout on the Groy-Otira line, on the Grey side of Moana, about 21 miles distant "from Greymouth. The inward express negotiated the obstruction on Saturday, arriving in Greymouth twenty minutes behind schedule time. The torrential downpour which continued throughout the evening caused the flood damage to grow to alarming proportions, and the washout to-day had increased to a length of one hundred, feet, and a depth in places of fifteen feet. A work train was dispatched to scene last evening, and the train leaving Greymouth at 4.45 p.m. for Otira was met by a special from Ot'ra, which conveyed the passengers and perishable goods to Otira. A work train and maintenance staif arc engaged in clearing the debris and effecting repairs to-day. [\ is expected to have repairs completed sufficiently on Tuesday to enable the express trains to run. Arrangements have heen mad© for passengers travelling to and from Christchurch to-moV-row to change over at the slip. The protection works at Deep Creek on the Grev-Moaua road, which were constructed by the Grey County Council last year, have proved an effective barrier apainst flood damages, and the last two floods have piled up a hean of drift wood against the groyne which served a very useful purpose in protecting the road from the assaults of last night's flood waters.