BLOODS AND LANDSLIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15439, 24 October 1913, Page 7

BLOODS AND LANDSLIPS.

mm LINE BLOCKED. TAIHAPE to marton. SEBIES OF OBSTRUCTIONS. EXPRESS TRAINS DELAYED. 'MANY HOURS' HEAVY RAIN. RIVERS RISING RAPIDLY. A nciK of landslips and the flooding of the railway for about three miles in the vicinity of Hunterville have interrupted Ml through traffic on the Main Trunk Railway, ihe prospect of the railway Ming cleared to-day could not be gauged » M evening, owing to the lac* of definite information regarding the damage done by flooding, but -if this cannot be effected arran-cmer.ts will probably be made for the conveyance of passengers and mails past the obstructions by coaches.

The principal causes of the interruption were a heavy slip, burying about 500 yards of the r.i lway, two miles south of Huntervilio. which is 294 miles from Auckland, and .-. washout, 4J miles south of Hunterville. Messages received last evening from Hunterville, Marion, and Taihape reported numerous other slips along the railway.

Heavy rain set in shortly before midmcht or, Wednesday, and continued Readily throughout yesterday, with the re'ul: that all tho rivers in the district are m high flood. The Orua, Pohangina, «>i Kangitikei Rivers, and the Porcwa stream have risen much above their usual level, and the Makino stream, near Feilding. has overflowed its banks, and inundated all the low-lying country which it traverses.

Several houses at the north end of Marton have been flooded by the overflow from the Tutaonui stream, which has reached a higher level than has been observed for many years. A wide expanse of count between Hunterville and Marlon is under water. The latest telegrams received last evening reported that heavy rain 'was still falling and that a serious flood was feared. ' At an early hour this morning it was also reported that «, slip had occurred in the ! Mangaweka tunnel, but details were meagre. Train Caught in a " Trap. A general disorganisation of the railway service between Marlon and Taihape, with a consequent interruption of the trains between Auckland and Wellington, has been the immediate result of the heavy flooding. Apparently an afternoon train from Marten to Ohakune was the first to be held up- It seems this train was travelling between Silverhope and Hnnterville, a distance of four miles, when it was found that the lino had been blocked by a heavy landslide. In the meantime a washout bad occurred half a mile south of Silver'cone, so that the train could neither advance nor return. Early last evening, a ballast train, with a gang of men, was sent out from Hunterville to clear away the slip. No slips had been reported north of Taihape, but the rain con tinned without abating, and it was feared that further obstructions would follow. Through Service Disorganised. Tho express train'which left Wellington for Auckland <*t mid-day ■ yesterday, wag held up at Marlon on its arrival at about fa p.m. It was anticipated that the train which left, here at mid-day yesterday would be able to proceed as far south as Taihape, or possibly Hunterville. So little information as to the extent of the obstruction was received early last evening that it was decided to despatch the evening express as usual. Intending passengers were warned that there would probably be delay beyond Taihape, and that through communication might not be established, so that about 40 persons decided to delay their journey. A fairly large number of passengers were aboard the train when it left the city at the usual time. Later messages from Taihape offered little prospect for this tram of proceeding further than Ohakune or Taihape. Temporary Services Arranged. Arrangements were made last evening to run a train from Taihape to Auckland on the schedule of the express which arrives at 6.58 a.jo. This train will serve the traffic from the stations along its journey, out there was no possibility of conveying passengers or mails from the train, which is held up at Marton. 'if the way is cleared in time the express which left Wellington at raid-day yesterday will be brought through. Should the obstruction prove more serious another train will be run today from Taihape on the schedule of the express arriving at 4.12 p.m. The midday express southwards will be despatched as usual. There is a good road between Taihape and Marlon, and should it bo found that the clearing of the railway is likely t" be a lengthy undertaking arrangements may bo possible by which connection be: ween the open lines may be established by coaches. The railway officials at Wellington decided last evening not to book gj,y passengers for stations north of Marton. Train Struck by a Slip. The occurrence of flips on the section of railway between Marton and Taihape is lather surprising, as the country traversed by the line has not been regarded as treacherous. Apparently, a heavy rainfall within 12 or 14 hours has loosened the formation in &omo of the cuttings, and the sudden accumulation of large volumes of water has broken down the faces. An inU;cai on of the character of these slips is given by ,i telegram -from Marton reporting an experience met by the express train, which was stopped at Marlon. As it was attending the incline from Greatlord, the next station north of Feilding, to Halconibe, two slips fell upon the line. The second struck the train, soil and stones crashing against the carriages. No injury w as caused beyond the damaging of a steam-pipe on the locomotive. A I'/.-f-s Association message from Wanganni last night stated that on the Wangariui line there was a slip between I'ordeli and Wanganui- On the Hawke's Bay section the late train from Napier, winging visitors from the Hastings snow, ''as held up temporarily by a slip at ''lata ma u.

WANGANUI EIVEE EISING.

PIPIRIKI WHARF COVERED.

[»v telegraph.—fhess association:]

Wanganui, Thursday. Steady, drenching rain has fallen all ay' and still continues. The low-lying Parts of the district are inundated, and the railway line has suffered more or less damage. A menage from Pipiriki to-night said that it },-..! been raining continuously tor 26 hours. The river was 9ft above the wharf, and a very heavy flood is ex-, peeled.