HEAVY CLOUDBURST

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 28, 27 October 1932, Page 9

HEAVY CLOUDBURST

Napier Express Held Up DEBRIS ON THE RAILWAY Dominion Special Service. Woodville, Oct. 26. Vivid lightning and heavy thunder accompanied a cloudburst in Woodville yesterday. Rain' fell in torrents for over half an hour and the streets were soon flooded. The Napier express was held up on the Ashhurst end of the Manawatu Gorge by a rivulet of mud, and carried with it branches of trees and rock and flowing across the line threatened to scour out the ballast. After the debris had been cleared away by surfacemen sent from Woodville and Ashhurst the train was able to proceed, but another stop had to be made near the Ballace bridge. , , In the Manawatu Gorge heavy rain made visibility poor for motorists, while rocks and wood were washed across the roadway. SLIP NEAR TUNNEL Between Eketahuna and Mangamahoe Dominion Special Service. Masterton, Oct. 26. Further dislocation to rail traffic on the Wairarapa line has been caused by another slip coming down at the northern approach to the tunnel at Wi Waka, between Eketahuna and Mangamahoe. Following on heavy rain on Monday a fairly large slip occurred on Monday night and caused a blockage. This slip was, however, cleared in time to allow a north-bound train to pass late yesterday afternoon. A further fall occurred last nignt and again completely blocked the line. Traffic to-day has been considerably disorganised and passengers travelling on the line to-day have been transhipped between Eketahuna and Mangamahoe. Gangers have been working on the slip all day to-day and will continue throughout to-night in an endeavour to get the line clear some time tomorrow. ___