THE FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13399, 30 January 1907, Page 7

THE FLOODS.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC HUNTLY TO

POKENO RESUMED

Thk railway lino between Pokeno and Huntly having been temporarily repaired, traffic between the two stations was resumed yesterday. The ten minutes to eight a.m. train, which usually goes as far as Frankton Junction, was run right through to Rotorua yesterday, arriving at Huntly on the usual ten o'clock (express time), and running as the express thence to its destination. This was the first train to run through to Rotorua since January 14, a period of 15 days, and was largely patronised. The ordinary express train from Rotorua left on time, and arrived in Auckland shortly after six p.m. The ten a.m. express from Auckland was run to Mercer only. The quarter past four p.m. train from Auckland ran through to Frankton as usual, and trains from Frankton and Mercer to Auckland ran as usual. The same service will be maintained to-day. The Department is now pushing ahead with the repairs of the line: between Pokeno and Huntly, in order to enable the ordinary service with the regular express trains to be resumed. It is not expected, however, that the line will be ready for the ordinary traffic for a day or two, ami in the meantime trains have to run over the affected portions at reduced speed.

WAIROA SOUTH. Good progress is being made with the erection of the bridge across the Wairoa River to connect Clevedon with Ness Valley and Otau. At present the ford is the only means available, and to use it means taking a round-about way of five or six miles. The old bridge has been recovered, and is being placed just above the old site. It will be made available for light vehicular traffic until such time, as the ferro-concrete bridge is built, if the ratepayers of the district adopt the proposal. The Hood caused a good; deal of inconvenience, and left a very heavy deposit of silt on the flats. It will be a few weeks before the grass will be through sufficiently for grassing purposes, but the silt will benefit the ground in the long run. On the flats about the Wairoa there was about 10ft of water. The milk .supply was affected for a while, but is Wain steading improving.