MIDLAND LINE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24743, 7 December 1945, Page 6

MIDLAND LINE

TRAFFIC BACK TO NORMAL From Our Own Reporter . GREYMOUTH, December 6. Tram time-tables and schedules were back to normal on the, Midland railway line to-dsy after days' blockage caused by slips and washouts between Jackson's and Otira. Heavy freight trains ran throughout the early morning and night from the West Coast to Canterbury, hauling cosl and timber, which' had accumulated on this side of the blockage. • The release of numerous trucks and waggons from the Canterbury side helped loading operations at mines and sawmill sidings. ■ The Works Department is now. concentrating on the clearance of the .Otira Gorge road, which was blocked more extensively and to a greater depth than the railroaQ. While large bulldozers are engaged and will make short work dl the debris, it will probably be some days before the road is ready for traffic. The rail-car schedule was well maintained this morning and the express trains were only slightly delayed. • The rail-car stranded at Greymouth went back on to-night's unit to Christchurch, making a double-unit for the trip. Both were well patronised. Rough seas continue on the Greymouth bar, and several ships are held up, the most serious being the Karepo, which' is several days' dverdue" at Auckland with an urgently required coal shipment for the gasworks. It cannot saiL before to-morrow at the earliest Several Vessels will also be waiting in the roadstead before morning.