MORE HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED IN MOUNTAINS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 6

MORE HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED IN MOUNTAINS

Catchment Boards’ Staffs On The Alert

A warning of north-west winds and heavy rain in the ranges was received at Arthur’s Pass and Otira last evening from the Meteorological Office, Wellington. It was possible that conditions similar to those on Thursday could be expected, the warning said.

Between six and nine hours of heavy rain in the alps from midnight was predicted, and this would be followed by a general easing as the wind changed later today. The staffs of the North Canterbury and South Canterbury Catchment Boards have been alerted.

Late last evening rain was falling in Westland, and was expected to begin at Otira late last night. The flood-battered townships of Otira and Arthur’s Pass are cleaning up debris and preparing for further floods. Men last night snatched a few brief hours of sleep —the first in some cases for three days. A Ministry of Works bulldozer at Arthur’s Pass is standing by in case of further damage at the north end of the township.

The Main North road was open to fill traffic yesterday, although some water had to be negotiated between Chaneys corner and the highway bridge. Buses and heavy vehicles had been able to pass through on Saturday morning, but the water had been 'too deep for cars. Train services on the main north and south lines are now running normally, although repaired sections of the track at Bankside, near the Rakaia overbridge, and Arundel, near the Rangitata river, are being passed over at reduced speed. The Midland line is still closed from Cass onwards and normal rail services are in operation onlv

as far as Springfield. From there, supplies and stores are being taken by work train to Cass and from there by jigger to Arthur’s Pass.

The Arthur’s Pass road between the Bealey and the Waimakariri river bridge is still closed, and is likely to be closed for some days. The Lewis Pass route to the West Coast is open to all traffic. The' Main South road is open, but on the Hermitage road to Pukaki, where there was heavy rainfall, about 10 miles of the road is heavily damaged. Bridges and fords have been completely washed out and damaged. The Franz Josef glacier is iso-

lated by a blockage of the road, which has cut off South Westland. About 50 or 60 cars were towed through by a bulldozer yesterday, the Automobile Association reported. A Bailey bridge has been sent to the site of the washout and should be erected ready for traffic late today. Buses are continuing to take passengers and perishable goods firohi Christchurch to the West Coast through the Lewis Pass, ft will be some days before rail services will resume, as the floods have, in addition to washihg out sections of the track near Otira, caused a severe power shortage and there is no electricity available for the electric locomotives between Arthur’s Pass and Otira. In the meantime, buses will leave each day for Greymouth from Christchurch at 10 a.m. and from Greymouth at 10.15 a.m. It is possible that meat may be taken to the West Coast by bus, but this will depend on the demand. A lorry service for small consignments of essential goods may also be run by the Railways Department.