AERIAL VIEW OF DAMAGE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26125, 30 May 1950, Page 6

AERIAL VIEW OF DAMAGE

FLIGHT ON WEST COAST TEREMAKAU RIVER EROSION An aerial view of the flood damage on the West Coast, showing serious erosion in the Teremakau river valley and the Otira line district, was obtained by the Greymouth correspondent of “The Press” yesterday afternoon when he accompanied Group Captain D. J. Scott on an aerial survey in one of the West Coast United Aero Club’s Tiger Moth aeroplanes. Only from the air could the extent of the flooding be appreciated. The Teremakau river spread over a wide area after leaving the confined space beyond the Wainihinihi river, where apart from the upper Teremakau traffic bridge the major damage was to the railway line which fringes the stream for some distance from Jackson’s towards Otira. At one of the first major blockages on the Midland line a large bulldozer could be seen operating on a slip. Further on there was a series of washouts, the worst of which was at a bend in the river where the stream had swept in under the line, which was suspended for some 70 or 80 yards. The river has cut in so deeply at this point that this will probably now be the main bed of the stream. Further breaches in the railway are less serious but considerable clearing of the slips, ballasting and repairs to washed-out portions will be necessary. Road Cleared The clearing of the road from Reefton to Greymouth was reported last evening by the Chief Patrol Officer of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) (Mr L. D. Pickles). A bulldozer diverted Stoney creek at Mawheraiti back to its former course and a small team of lorries carted gravel to refill the washed-out approach to the bridge. Mr Pickles said this route would be open to traffic by 9 a.m. to-day. It is understood that in South Westland there is a gap on the Arawata river bridge approach and damage on the access road between Jackson’s Bay and Haast, where for some two miles the route runs close to the seashore. Damage by slips and the sea was certain. said a Ministry of Works official. To make a survey of the damage caused by flooding in the province, the assistant engineer in chief of the Ministry of Works (Mr R. Trevor Smith) and the chief engineer to the Railways Department (Mr H. C. Lusty) arrived by special aeroplane at Greymouth yesterday afternoon. They will make a full investigation and report on the extent of the damage.