WASH-OUT ON MAIN TRUNK LINE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 8

WASH-OUT ON MAIN TRUNK LINE

Traffic Returning To Normal THROUGH EXPRESSES MANY HOUfIS LATE .:i ji ASSOCIATION. TELEGRAM.) •'* ' 5 ' ' \ AUCKLAND, August 22. The main trunk line which was blocked bv the large wash-out that occurred on Monday morning five miles south of Te Kuiti is again open for traffic. After long delays express trains for Auckland and Wellington were able to negotiate the wash-out, early this afternoon and reached their destinations many hours late. Through trains were dispatched from Auckland and Wellington practically on time this afternoon and evening a " d J* expected that they would arrive at the opposite terminals almost on schedule to-morrow mornafternoon express dispatched from Wellington on Monday did not reach Auckland until 5.56 p.m. to-day instead of 5 a.m. The Limited express due at 9.30 o clock did not arrive until 6.36 p.m. Passengers on the two expresses which left Auckland for Wellington on Monday night were even later in reaching their destination. Because of fairly numerous cancellations there were comparatively few passengers on the two expresses which arrived at Auckland to-night. Most of _ the travellers were very tired after spending so many hours in the -train, but they accepted the situation philosophically and there were few complaints. Fortunately the weather in the King Country was mild and fine and with the carnages well heated no discomfort was sufEsrcdt Traffic is now returning to normal between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui. Over the washout it is necessary to reduce speed as the rails sag slightly into the new filling although not sufficiently to give rise to any fears regarding safety Work is still proceeding on the filling and on the temporary culvert replacing the one that was blocked. Because of the level of the water it is' still impossible to get at the blocked culvert which has almost certainly collapsed and will require replacement.

MAIL FROM NORTH DELAYED Only Auckland Dispatch By Air [THE PRESS Special Service.! WELLINGTON, August 22. With the exception of air mail brought to Wellington by Union Airways’ Lockheed Electra monoplanes no Auckland correspondence was delivered in Wellington city and suburbs to-day. The bulk of the northern mails was on board the first express which arrived at Wellington late to-night attached to the Limited after being delayed by the washout hear Te KuitL Normally the first express arrives, at Wellington at 7 a.m. in time for correspondence- to be delivered by the postmen that morning and the Limited arrives at 9.30 a.m.,-the mails by this train being delivered in the afternoon.. Because of the wash-out the departure from Auckland of both expresses was delayed on Monday night, the first .train, with a postal car attached; leaving at 9 p.m. and the Limited an hour later. A special staff.was on duty in the mailroom at the Chief Post Office, Wellington. late to-night: to cope with the mails when they arrived. Correspondence and seconcU-ciass’matter will be distributed in the City and suburbs tormorrotv morning. In addition to the mails from northern offices the combined express brought ' two overseas mails to Wellington. The Monowai from Vancouver arrived at Auckland on Monday with 619 bags of English second-class mail and letter mails from Canada and the United States for Wellington. The Monterey, which also arrived at Auckland on Monday, had 113 bags of Australian first and second-class mail for Wellington.