HUGE LANDSLIDE.

Franklin Times, Volume XVII, Issue 85, 27 July 1927, Page 5

HUGE LANDSLIDE.

KARAKA CUTTING GIVES WAY. MAIN TRUNK LINE BLOCKED. THROUGH TRAINS HELD UP., BIG GANG AT WORK. REMOVING THOUSANDS OF YARDS OF CLAY.

All traffic on the Main Trunk railway between Pukekohe and Auckland, one of the most busiest sections of the New Zealand railways, was interrupted at about three o'clock this morning, when a huge landslide occurred in*' the Karaka cutting, at a poirit 26.5 miles south of Auckland, or about a mile on the northern side of the Paerata railway station. The slip, which is a few yards, on the southern side of the overhead traffic bridge, is about two chains in length, and it is estimated that between 15,000 and 2Q.000 yards of earth have fallen oh to the permanent way. Last year a much smaller slip occurred in the same spot, and traffic then was held up for some time. This morning's landslide invaded the Wesley. College Trust's property to the extent, of some feet,, and to-day portion of. the boundary fence was suspended in the air. Judging from the appearance of the highland on the edge of the slip, it is apparent that the slipping land has found its level and that when the pre-

sent obstruction is cleared away this particular locality should not give the authorities much cause for alarm in the future.' However, the country in this particular area is subject to slips, as about five have occurred here since the railway track-was put through the, cutting, for the main object of improving the grade.on the Karaka bank.. Hundreds of Tons Come' Down. Apart from the hundreds of tons of earth, which is of a particularly sticky clay and papa nature, that fell on to the. line, the permanent way was not able to stand up to the terrific weight, and it was shifted fully 12 feet cut of its' proper alignment for approximately a chain and a half, while a railway telephone pole carrying a large number of wires also gave way under the pressure of the landslide. ,'-'..

As soon as intimation, that a slip had occurred, was received by the Department, gangs of men were organised and; despatched post-haste to the scene of the obstruction. The gangs operating on the lengths between Mercer and Papakura were first to reach the slip,and a commencement was made at about 5 a.m. to clear the debris away.

These gangs were later reinforced by men from Auckland and Huntly, while 'work trains were soon on the spot. At 11 o'clock to-day,j when a "Times" reporter reached the slip, there were 50 men grafting away with picks and shovels, while men were coming from all directions to take up'operations with similar tools. After removing .a large quantity of earth from the southern end of the slip, the main line wa/5 broken, so that a temporary line could be placed over the- obstruction for' trucks, which will facilitate the removal of this mass of earth. Gangs were operating at both ends of the landslide, and good progress was being made, but by noon litlile impression had been made on the mass of earth. It is estimated that the line will be cleared sufficiently at a late hour tonight to allow trains to pass through, but it will be some days before the work of clearing is completed. Finy men going at top speed can remove a large quantity of material, but they will have to go hard to achieve the object aimed at by to-night. . At the present time trains are held up everywhere between, Pukekohe and Papakura, and to-day Pukekohe and Paerata stations appeared to bo very busy Paerata junction appeared to the observer .to be more like Frankton Junction, as four trains have been parked there, and they are liable to remain there for many hours yet. ■,;

Handling of Traffic. The Department is handling the passenger traffic very efficiently. The first passenger train to be held v up this morning was the north-bound Main Trunk express, but after a little delay the train proceeded as far as the slip, where the passengers, mails and luggage were transhipped by a staff of porters to a relief train ;on the northern side of the obstruction, and they arrived in. Auckland four hours behind schedule. This practice was followed throughout the day as the north and south-bound trains arrived, but the whole railway time-table is very much disorganised. By to-morrow morning trains are expected to pass over the slip and the ordinary timetable adhered to. "It is an, ill wind that blows, no one any good" is a well-known axiom, and it applies very much to the interrup-

tion of the railway time-table. The slip, while causing the Railway Department much concern and expense, is a boon to 'bus owners and' taxis. This morning, when it became known that through trains were blocked, passengers from Pukekohe flocked to the 'bus, which usually leaves here at 8 a.m., and the accommodation therein, was totally inadequate when the 'bus pulled out, so much so that the services of taxi cars were availed of, while a local 'bus owner gathered a load and conveyed the travellers to P'apakura, where they caught a suburban train. Mails from the north were received in Pukekohe to-day by about midday. NORTHERN LINE BLOCKED. A report from Auckland states that passengers from Whangarei to Auckland were held up at Maungaturoto, Where refreshments could be obtained, owing to.obstructions on the line, and railway officials hoped to have had the line clear by midday. .