HEAVY RAINFALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1934, Page 7

HEAVY RAINFALL

POERUA BRIDGE DAMAGED

RAILWAY TRAFFIC SUSPENDED

A washout at the Poerua railway bridge yesterday afternoon, brought about a serious interruption to the service between the East and West Coast. It is not anticipated that the regular service will be resumed before to-morrow night. Heavy continuous rain near the scene of the washout has caused extensive damage, and all trains have been cancelled owing to slips and further washouts. The damage occurred on a bend in the line near Poerua, owing to the creek being dammed higher up, due to a slip. The force behind the rising creek broke through the skip, and the rush of water carried away much timber off the road and banks, and backed it up against the railway bridge. The water cut a course through the permanent way on the bridge approach to a length of 20 feet, and a depth of 10 feet, within a few minutes. The other end of the bridge was also washed out, but to a lesser extent. Surfacemen, on hearing the rush of water, and ascertaining, the damage, stopped the 4.20 train from Otira to Greymouth, at Poerua station, which ;

is on the eastern side of the bridge. I The train from Otira waited at Poerua, for the mail from the 4.35 p.m. Greymouth-Otira train. The 2.55 p.m. Greymouth-Otira train, which was hauling 24 trucks of sheep and lambs, and one truck of cattle to the Addington sale yards, was held up at Rotomanu. The 7.35 p.m. train from Greymouth to Christchurch, did not depart. Four other trains were prevented from coming westward.

Perishable goods on the train which

usually arrives at Greymouth from Christchurch at 4.35 a.m., were transhipped at Poerua to-day, and arrived at Greymouth at 12.50 p.m. A message from Christchurch states that no trains left Christchurch today. Gangs of men are working at both ends of the damaged bridge, near Poerua, but heavy rain is falling in the locality.

Telegraph communication was interrupted overnight, but was restored at noon to-day. Seven inches of rain fell at Otira during 24 hours. The Telegraph Department at Greymouth reported that a slip which occurred eight miles west of Otira, affected the Christchurch line, but the damage was repaired at noon, to-day.

AUCKLAND BENEFITS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, April 17. A substantial fall of rain has occurred, following an unusually long dry spell. The rain came too late in a number of cases to completely retrieve the crop position, but its benefits will be widespread. Green crops, particularly, had suffered from lack of moisture. Strawberry growers can now prepare for next season’s crop.