LINKS TO WEST COAST CUT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31232, 2 December 1966, Page 1

LINKS TO WEST COAST CUT

Rail, Road And

Telephone

Very heavy rain in the Otira area on Wednesday night caused slips and floods which blocked the railway line and partly blocked the road.

Rail services will not be restored until today. A rough track was available today for car traffic. The 1.50 a.m. rail-car from Christchurch to Greymouth did not run, and it was expected last night that the line would be open by 6 a.m.

Post and telegraph circuits to Christchurch and in some cases to Wellington and Nelson were broken.

Gangs of workmen from the Ministry of Works, Railways, and Post Office were rushed to one flooded area yesterday morning.

Seventeen passengers for

Greymouth on the rail-car from Christchurch were stranded at Otira. Taxis sent from Greymouth to bring them for the rest of their journey were unable to get over the flooded roads. The rail-car which normally leaves Greymouth at 10.30 a.m. was cancelled and similar action was taken later with the rail-car which leaves at 6.15 p.m. Twenty-seven passengers had booked on this.

All goods trains to Otira and Canterbury were cancelled. The chief trouble occurred at Rocky Creek between Aickens and Jacksons. The rail bridge was submerged and both approaches were scoured out. Further slips occurred between Rocky creek and Otira and water to a depth of 2ft lay across the highway at

Nellys creek, three-quarters of a mile on the Greymouth side of Rocky creek. The Lewis pass road has been used. West Coast difficulties, however, were accentuated by the interruption of both air services to the province. Big Slip A big slip at Deception point, two miles and a half west of Otira put out of action all telegraph and toll circuits between Greymouth and Otira and to Christchurch. Lines in the Jacksons area were brought down early yesterday morning and were not restored until about 10 a.m. Repair gangs set out in darkness and reached the affected areas by daylight. A temporary cable was set up to supply service. The Regional Engineer in Christchurch (Mr H. W. Wilkinson) said the storm knocked out three of the four carrier systems and the fourth struggled along giving intermittent service.

Tolls Cleared

Toll calls, which banked up during the first two hours of business, were cleared soon after noon.