BLOCKAGES BETWEEN WAIROA AND NAPIER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23020, 10 August 1949, Page 8

BLOCKAGES BETWEEN WAIROA AND NAPIER

(S.JFO WAIROA, Aug. 10. Although the railway line and road to Gisborne is open, there is a severe blockage between Wairoa and Napier, it being impossible to get through either by road or rail. One of the heaviest slips for some time is reported between Mohaka and Raupunga, where it is estimated that 5000 cb. yds. of spoil have come down, completely blocking the railway line. It is estimated that it will be days before through traffic will be resumed. The hignway is open as far south as the Mohaka rabbit bridge, where a small slip has occurred which will oe cleared today, but from there on there have been many falls which will pre vent road transport.

With the railway blocked, the department is endeavouring to send passengers by road between Wairoa and Napier. A Railways Road Service bus left this morning, but it is anticipated that it will not reach its destination. The Wairoa-Rotorua route is blocked by a fairly big slip between Kaitatva and Lake House and no road services are being run today.

The local rainfall since Sunday totals 4in., or more than the total for the whole of August last year. There is a considerable amount of flooding in the borough and the river is very high, but nowhere near the high level of May, 1948.