GORGE BLOCKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22261, 8 November 1935, Page 12

GORGE BLOCKED

MANAWATU HIGHWAY HUGE SLIP TO BE CLEARED DANGER FROM FALLING ROCKS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday The road through the Manawutu Gorge, which Ims been rendered impassable by slips on several occasions in the last few months, is again totally blocked for traffic by a fall of rubble, rocks and trees which came thundering down a hillside about 4.30 this afternoon. The scene of the latest landslide is just insido of the Palmerston North end of the gorjje, and it is stated that debris is piled as high as the telephone wires. A gang will start clearing the slip at 6.30 to-morrow morning, but as tho hillside shows signs of creeping, it is feared tho road will not be available again for traffic until Saturday at the earliest. Tho Gorge Road is looked upon as being a dangerous thoroughfare at the present time as is instanced by tho fact that a rock, estimated to weigh between seven and eight tons, fell from a hill on to the road last night with such force that it not only cracked tho concrete parapet under tho bitumen, but also the concrete support pillar. Explosives had to be used to break tho rock up before it could bo reraflved. The Pahiatua Track, an alternative route to Hawke's Bay, although suffering from the effects of soaking rains, is able to carry average motor traffic.