Truck Skids, Falls Into Stream

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 14

Truck Skids, Falls Into Stream

(brom Our Oiua Reporter) WESTPORT, March 27. A light truck containing three employees of the Buller Power Board. Messrs J. Walsh, S. Price and Daniels, skidded on the Birchfield approach of the Waiinangaroa river bridge this afternoon and crashed into the stream. The occupants escaped with shock and abrasions. The truck is in fairly deep water in the flooded stream.

'The 41 inches of rain! which fell in the Buller district for 32 hours up to noon today caused widespread slips, wash-outs and flooding of roads. The rain fell with-) out a break through the) night. The most damage was on the Karamea bluff road where a number of slips and wash-outs held up traffic. The road may not be (cleared until tomorrow night. | The Millerton and Karamea I representatives on the Buller ! County Council. Messrs C. I Orman and N. Christiansen, respectively could not get through to Westport to attend the monthly meeting but other members from the country were transported across the Birchfield stretch

by trucks. Assistance was given to some farmers, including those in the flooded Orowaiti district. by the County Council in getting cream to Westport. Railway services were not affected. No stock losses were reported although some cows were in danger at Charleston for a time. Some miners and bushmen could not travel to work because of flooded roads There was extensive flooding in the Little Wanganui river and in Granite creek, both in the Karamea district. Roads were impassable in some places. Streams closer to Westport, especially the Ngakawau and Nile rivers, carried a lot of water. The Ngakawau was

at its highest level for some! years and the Nile was run-) ning bank high near Charleston. A slip in the Nile river! area closed the road for a) time this morning, as did one) on Costellos hill. The Ministry of Works had) gangs out clearing slips in! the Buller Gorge mostly ■ around Windy point. The Westport-Seddonville road at Birchfield was covered to a depth of 3ft in places and) was closed to most traffic all) today. This morning, when conditions were not so bad,) heavier vehicles got through but some cars had to be pulled out by graders and trucks.