LANDSLIDE INTERRUPTS TRAFFIC FROM WGTN.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6669, 24 July 1928, Page 9

LANDSLIDE INTERRUPTS TRAFFIC FROM WGTN.

SLIP CLEARED AWAY YESTERDAY MORNING. :jL^ Traffic between Wellington and the Mariawatu has been considerably inter rupted since Sunday afternoon, when a largo part of the hillside between tho summit of the Paekakariki Hill and Pahautanui commenced to slip with tho result that tho well known "Devil’s • Elbow’’ bend, about two milhs on the Wellington side of tho Paekakariki Hill, ’ , became impassible. All week-end traffic , was forced to turn back from tho slip and use tho Akatarawa Gorge road,"... which, as motorists well know, though ‘ " narrow, is far from a road that has no turning. It is surmised that ■the slip may have been caused by tho loosening of the hillside ns the result of extensive blasting operations which tho Public Works Department have recently been carrying out In that vicinity. „ 7 At this point the ro'ad is narrow and the hillsides are particularly steep with the result that once the hill face was broken the reck and debris quickly piled up across the roadway." Late on Sunday night rocks and boulders were still coming down, but yesterday morning there was apparently no further . . movement. Shortly before mid-day-yesterday a sufficient width of roadway had been cleared to allow vehicles to pass, but those who do not fancy tho risk of going past tho great loose face may bp ■ , advised to travel by tho Akatarawa and- . Waikanao road. • The road was clear for vehicular traffic by 11 a.m. yesterday-morning, f-,.-.