Boisterous Weather

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 195, 20 August 1935, Page 8

Boisterous Weather

DISTRICT SATURATED BY CONTINUAL HEAVY RAINS,

Heavy rain, accompanied by liail, fell at Palmerston North again yesterday and tho day w r as a bleak one with cold temperatures. It is reported that extensive slips have occurred on the main highway between Apiti and the Oroua river. Tho road is blocked to all traffic and it is not anticipated that the obstructions will be cleared beforo this evening. Tho ICairanga County Council has been advised by the Highways Board that it is prepared to help with the maintenance of the Pahiatua Track while it is being used as main route during blockages in tho Manawatu Gorge. A lorry load of workmen were engaged on tho track yesterday clearing away the minor slips that were brought down over Sunday by tho heavy rainfall.

Tho Palmerston North-Tokomaru road also had to be -watched carefully yesterday by county workmen. Quite a number of minor slips came down in tho cuttings and theso were speedily cleared away.

About 0.30 o’clock yesterday morning an engine, proceeding down a gradient beyond tho Wahakarougo railway station on the Palmerston North-Wood-ville line ran into a mud slip. It ploughed through the obstruction and fortunately tho train was not affected, although ' the lino w'as subsequently blocked for four hours.

The scene oi : the mishap -was at a steep downhill grado about half a mile iu length, the top being just P !ist the bridge over Stoney creek. Visibility, owing to the weather conditions, was bad, and as the train was rounding a bend near the bottom of tho long slope, where tho lino passes directly under a sharp bluff some GOf.t high, tho driver (Mr. T. Fletcher) saw tho obstruction ahead. He applied tho brakes, but the dead weigh behind tho engine made it plough through the slip, spraying mud in all directions, some of it being shot over an embankment into a paddock 40ft. below.