PASSAGE THROUGH SLIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 10

PASSAGE THROUGH SLIP

AWAKINO VALLEY REOPENED LARGE GANG OF MEN ENGAGED [bt telegraph—OWN correspondent] TE KUITI, Tuesday A passage through the slip in the Awakino Valley on the main highway between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth was cleared at 10.30_a.m. to-day and the main bus was able to pass through. The slip is of larger dimensions than was at first realised. It is estimated that between 3000 and 5000 cubic yards of material came down and with it trees and scrub.

The road was blocked over a distance of 44 yards and the slip extended well up the steep face of the gorge. A gang of 22 men is now employed in clearing the debris, and it is estimated the work will occupy several days. Operations were greatly facilitated by the clearing of the weather overnight. The buses last eveming happened to arrive at the scene of the blockage about the same time, one on each side of the slip, which is about six miles north of Awakino. They were able to tranship passengers and the northbound bus arrived in Te Kuiti only 10 minutes late.

The heavy rilin has also resulted in the highway being Hooded at a point about nine miles south of Te Kuiti. However, this evening the water was only six or eight inches deep, and as the weather had moderated no trouble was expected.