COMMUNICATIONS INTERRUPTED

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1949, Page 5

COMMUNICATIONS INTERRUPTED

Although rail services were able to carry out normal schedules yesterday, the main interruption of communications was on the roads, the outlets through Lewis Pass and Otira Gorge being badly blocked, while heavy scouring blocked the main south road at Wataroa. The Otira Gorge road was blocked in four places, and its reopening is unlikely for some days. The worst area appears to have been in the vicinity of Wainihinihi and Jacksons, where the road was covered to adepth of more than four feet. As nine inches of rain fell at Otira in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday, considerable slips are expected to have occurred on the Otira Gorge Road. The main scouring on the Lewis Pass road has occurred on the Canterbury side, and there has been heavy flooding near Crushington. Yesteiday’s services had to be cancelled. The Euller Gorge road is also block-

ed, and Broad and Halpin's creeks were flooded and unfordable yesterday. Nearer Greymouth. water covered the road about three-quarters of a mile on the Greymouth side of Stillwater, but the road to Runanga was clear except for some water near the Camp railway station. The Coal Creek flat road was clear, as was the main highway to Brunner. Between Greymouth and Hokitika the highway last evening was flooded in places, as every' stream crossing the road carried an abnormal flow of water, but the good surface enabled motorists to get through. Further south, the road to Kokatahi was blocked by' water after the Kokatahi River had risen about ten feet above normal. All rivers in South Westland were in ■ high flood, and it is anticipated that there will be further numerous slips, although no word was received last evening from south of Wataroa. Further trouble on the Waiho-Weheka section of the highway, which was washed away less than a fortnight ago, was expected to be again impassable. Telephone and telegraphic communications were not affected in the Greymouth district. The Arahura Valley road was Covered to a depth of three feet, but the cream' lorry was able to get through yesterday morning. AT HOKITIKA

The peak of the flood at Hokitika occurred with the morning high tide between 8 and 9 o’clock, when water backed up through the manholes and partly flooded some of the low-lying streets. However, by 10 a.m. all of the water had cleared, and the river continued to drop. The motor vessel, Hauiti, also on .its maiden, voyage to the West Coast, was berthed at Hokitika, and she was heavily chained to withstand the current of nine to ten knots running throughout the day'. She is expected to sail this morning. ‘

Heavy Flood • in Buller River WESTPORT, February 23. A high flood was experienced in the Buller River yesterday, but no stock losses are reported. The river rose at the wharves by two feet between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and great quantities of green timber brought down the river indicated that a major slip must have occurred up the Buller Gorge. The Buller Gorge is blocked at Waimarie. where water is across the road at the bridge. . Heavy flooding was also experienced in the northern areas, Seddonville, Mokihinui and Granity being cut off with deep water across the road.