Midland Railway Still Closed By Flood Waters

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28536, 15 March 1958, Page 14

Midland Railway Still Closed By Flood Waters

(From Our Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, March 14. All rail services to the West Coast remain suspended while the damage caused by flooding on the Midland railway line between Moana and Aickens on Thursday is repaired. A railway spokesman said in Christchurch that there was a possibiltiy that th,e line would be reopened late tomorrow. In the meantime all passengers to and from the West Coast are being taken by Rpad Services buses by way of the Lewis Pass, and buses to the West Coast will leave from the Christchurch railway station at 10 a.m. tomorrow Passengers to stations on the Christchurch side of Arthur’s Pass were taken by rail-car this morning. The rail-car returned to Christchurch in the afternoon, and’ this service may be repeated tomorrow. Warned by the Westland Catcnment Board to be on the alert, businessmen and residents in the centre of Greymouth had a tiring night last night. The flood in the Grey river reached its peak between 5.30 and 6.30 this morning, the water reaching within a foot of the level of the Greymouth wharf. - This was the highest point reached in the six floods since Christmas. Owners of business premises were busy this morning cleaning up mud and slush which had accumulated during the night and early morning. A fire brigade pump was used to draw water out of several hotel cellars. Many street crossings were still flooded this afternoon. All mines in the Runanga district were idle today as road and rail access was blocked. Some residents in towns in the Grey district had trying experiences. The home of Mr and Mrs Adam Clark, below Blackball Hill, had two feet of water flowing through it after nearly seven inches of rain had fallen in the township. Mr Clark, an invalid, had to be carried out. One home at Camerons was invaded by the flood, but a recently cut outlet saved the township from severe flooding.

The rapid rise of the Water from the Grey river at the Greymouth Jockey Club’s racecourse at Omoto caused hurried transfer of 10 horses stabled there through four feet of water to stables on the roadside higher up. Mr H. D. James, proprietor of the totalisator, and members of his staff, waded in water almost up to their armpits to remove valuable printing equipment. Passengers in a bus conveying workers from Greymouth to Runanga last evening had to return, as it was unable to negotiate the flooded road near the flaxmill. Some of the passengers, however, eager to get home, waded through water up to their waists. Others returned to Greymouth, where they spent the night.

Tar-sealing work on many roads and highways, which had been completed during the recent hot dry spell, will have to be done again in several localities. Toll communications from Greymouth to other centres were affected, but were restored without much difficulty. Telephone connexions, however, could not be made today with Karoro or Blaketown. A flood relief committee has been formed to deal with West Coast flood damage problems. It was formed by the Department of Agriculture, and composes Mr J. Lockhart, the department’s field instructor; Mr W. Clayton, representing the Westland Catchment Board; Mr J. Fitzharris, Commissioner of Crown Lands; Messrs C. McLennan (Rotomanu) and A. C. Marshall (Kokatahi), representing Federated Farmers; and Mt J. Macdonald, catchment board engineer. The committee held its first meeting in Greymouth this afternoon, and after discussing problems in general and the announcement of the Minister of Agriculture of a policy to help floodaffected farmers, it was decided to send a report to the Minister and to consider schemes for assistance after claims for assistance had been received by the Department of Agriculture. According to a Press Association message from Greymouth, the secretary of the West Coast branch of the A.A. (Canterbury) said today that’the main south highway was only open to traffic as far as Ross. It was closed from there onwards by damage caused in earlier floods. “It will be a fortnight or so before the full route to South Westland is opened to traffic again,” he said. Relief Committee Set Up (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, March 14. A flood relief committee for the West Coast has been established. The committee consists of Mr J. Lockhart, instructor of agriculture (chairman), representatives of the Department of Lands, catchment boards and Federated Farmers, and Mr J. B. Kent, member of Parliament for Westland. Farmers on flooded properties who require assistance in terms of the recently announced Government policy, should get in touch with the relief committee through Mr Lockhart at the Department of Agriculture in Greymouth. The Minister of Agriculture (MSkinner) has asked for reports on flood damage to poperty.