REPAIR WORK AT GREYMOUTH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 10

REPAIR WORK AT GREYMOUTH

Danger of Further

Slips

MODERN METHODS EMPLOYED

Trains May Run This

Evening

/ (THE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH, March 22.“ More than 60 men were employed, and the latest types of excavating machinery were pressed into service, when work was begun this morning to clear the huge slip which yesterday afternoon buried the Grey-mouth-Reefton main highway and the Greymouth-Christchurch railway line near the Cobden bridge, just outside Greymouth.

Work began from both sides of the slip and it is intended to work unceasingly, day and night, untilboth road and railway are restored to normal.

While at this stage it is difficult for any accurate forecast, to be tnade, it is estimated that a track can be formed across the slip, on the site’of the road, in about three days, though the clearing away of the debris and The restoration of the road to its former condition is expected to take about two weeks, if not more.

It is difficult to predict accurately when the railway line cain be restored to normal, but attention is being concentrated on the formation Of a deviation round the “toe” of the slip, which it is hoped will allow of limited traffic being run by tomorrow night. Special arc lamps have been erected to permit.of the work continuing throughout the nights. Although the removal of tne slip is primarily the concern of the Greymouth Borough. Council and the Railway Department, co-operation and practical assistance have been given by the Public Works Department, under the direction of the District Engineer at Greymouth, Mr Trevor Smith, who has provided two Diesel shovels, tractors, a bulldozer. and many lorries.

Block on Cobden Bridge

The Greymouth Harbour Board’s steam-shovel from the quarry at Cobden was also trough. into use late to-day. Its passage across tnO two-way traffic bridge connecting Cobden and Greymouth, with only inches to spare between the plant and the railings, took nearly one and a half hours, holding up nearly 100 motor-cars and other traffic. The major difficulty presented in clearing the big slip is that as a great amount of loose material is removed there is almost certain _to be further movement in the hillside endangering the workers. This was one reason why yesterday no attempt was made to begin the work of clearing the road and railway. In the meantime the old Brunner road furnishes the only alternative route, except the coast road to Westport,#for traffic to Reefton and Christchurch. Special buses were put on by the Railway Department and used this road to connect at Stillwater with steam trains for Christchurch.

The rail-car, now that the slip at Kapitea, south of Kumara junction, has been cleared, is at Greymouth, but is unable to proceed further. Electric light and power cables laid underground and supplying the town enter Greymouth at the scene of the big slip. These, it is now established, have been severed which indicates that yesterday’s huge landslide has completely swept away the road itself, thus adding considerably to the time that will have to elapse before the roadway is restored for traffic. In the meantime the Westland Power Board’s supply from Hokitika is being drawn upon for Greymouth, and no inconvenience is caused.

Communications Being Restored When, yesterday afternoon, the telegraph and telephone lines were carried away by the slip, and communication was destroyed, the department immediately brought into use emergency radio sets and operators travelled to Brunner where they cut in on the line to Otira, through which office a limited number of messages were dispatched to Christchurch. In the late afternoon the Kumara-Otira circuit was restored, and the position was eased By noon to-day all telegraphic communication was back to normal After the slip telephonic communication with Reefton was possible only through Westport, but that line was restored to-day, as were all other lines.

No damage of a serious nature is reported from South Westland, and all the main roads are open to traffic, including the Otira Gorge road, according to advice received late this afternoon.

To-day broke gloriously fine after four days of torrential rain. For the 24 hours ended at 9 o’clock yester day morning the fall was 136 points, and in the following six hours the fall was 175 points, making three points 11 inches for 30 hours, of which one inch fell between 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. yesterday.

HEAVY RAINFALL

NO DAMAGE IN DULLER DISTRICT

Although heavy rain fell yesterday afternoon there was never any danger from floods and only minor damage was caused to roads in the Buffer district. From 9’ a.m. on Friday until 9 a.m. on Monday, Sin of rain fell at Westport. From 9 a.m. on Friday until 9 a.m. on Saturday the rainfall was 5.18 in.