GOODS SENT TO WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 4

GOODS SENT TO WEST COAST

RAILWAY USED TO CULVERDEN

REDUCED FREIGHT CHARGE The freight charges on goods sent to the West Coast by road have been reduced by nearly one-third from about £lO a ton by the introduction of rail traffic from Christchurch to Culverden. From Culverden the goods are conveyed by truck to Reefton, and then carried the remainder of the distance by rail. A slight delay will be caused by this method but a nearer approach to normal transport is being made by the Railways Department. Perishable goods are still given priority and some are being transported by road by way of Blenheim. Satisfactory progress is being made with the reconstruction of the damaged line, and it is fully expected that it may be sufficiently repaired to allow some traffic next week. Passengers are still being carried by New Zealand Road Services buses and are now being taken from Christchurch to Gr£y mouth by road d rect. Previously passengers had been carried as far as Reelton by bus and made the rest of the journey by railcar. Euses from Greymouth picked up railcar passengers at Reefton yesterday but as from to-day Christchurch bus s will make the complete journey. Buses will leave Christchurch at 7.45 a.m. and arrive at Greymouth at 4.15 p.m. From the West Coast buses will leave Hokitika at 8 a.m. and are expected to arrive at Christchurch at 5.35 p.m.

RAILWAYS ON WEST COAST

WEATHER HINDERS REPAIRS

LABOUR AND MATERIALS BEING ASSEMBLED From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, May 31.

The Railway Department is drawing upon skilled labour and special equipment from all parts of the South Island to repair the damage to its lines as a result of the recent West Coast floods.

The department is confident that rapid progress on the reopening of the three closed routes will be made as soon as the weather improves. The weather is still hampering repair work, and the engineers are not prepared to estimate now long it will take to reopen the lines. It appeals certain that the Midland line will be closed for at least a fortnight or three weeks, and the Blackball route for two months.

There are hopes that the Waitahu combined rail and road bridge will be reopened within a fortnight. Skilled bridge-building gangs from as far south as Dunedin are on their way to the West Coast to replace the missing spans of the Blackball bridge. So .many skilled men have been obtained that the department has had to refuse unskilled labour.

Materials for the bridge have been assembled from many points. Christchurch and Dunedin workers will wont on the bridge, and accommodation for them will be sought at nearby hotels.

The reconstruction of the Waitahu bridge is being planned in Westport. The bridge cannot yet be reached from Westport, because of several small washouts between Inangahua Junction and Waitahu. This section of the railway line should be reopened to-mor-row. and work will then begin on the bridge. Work has already begun on diverting the river away from the damaged section of the Waitahu bridge. If the weather is fine, good progress on the bridge is assured, and normal West-port-Creymouth traffic will be restored. Coal from Reefton is taken to the sea by this route.

Bailey bridging will be used in repairing the Waitahu bridge. Engineers

of the Ministry of Works will erect what is known as a “pig-sty” pier and work from that, with the present span now in the river acting as a protector. The span was washed downstream about five chains, and is now lying in the centre of the river. A convoy of eight lorries loaded with sections of Bailey bridging will leave Christchurch early to-morrow morning for Waitahu.

WESTLAND FLOOD 1 )AMAGE From Our Own Reporter HOKITIKA, May 31. The Westland County Council Engineer (Mr J. C. Clarke) said this evening that flood damage to roads was extensive throughout lhe county, althougn there was no major damage. Thousands of yards of metal have been removed from roads and several small bridge approaches have been damaged. In the Kokatahi district a 20-loot span bridge was removed by the flood waters, carried over fences, and deposited approximately 20 chains downstream. Mr Clarke spoke highly of the action of the settlers who did not call for assistance, but themselves hitched two tractors to the bridge and towed it to its correct position. Although not permanently fixed the bridge was used and the road open lor traffic. The most extensive damage to roads and farmlands was caused in the Koiterangi district where the Hokitika river damaged a strongpoint, overflowed its banks, and spread in some cases a mile wide over farmlands up to xence height, leaving a deposit of silt and debris. It was in the Koiterangi district that the only serious stock loss was reported. Mr E. F. Wall lost 40 sheep. Apart from this only minor losses have occurred. Arahura Valley Danger The roadway up the Arahura valley was immediately threatened by the erosion caused by the Arahura river above Mallroys bridge, said Mr Clarke. Temporary efforts were being made to arrest the danger, but great expense would have to be faced at this noint, as it was there that the river threatened to change its course and cause widespread havoc to valuable farmlands. Settlers in the valley are taking immediate steps to bring lhe matter before the appropriate authority.