RIVER IN FLOOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23050, 30 May 1938, Page 8

RIVER IN FLOOD

WEST COAST DELUGE BRIDGES WASHED AWAY TRUCKS GO DOWN STREAM SLIPS ON RAILWAY LINE I* BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT} GREYMOUTH, Sunday Slips and flooding on roads and railway lines accompanied heavy rain which fell in the Grevniouth district over the week-end. A deluge was experienced shortly after midnight last night and over 2in. of rain was recorded in less than 24 hours. Indicating heavy rain in the back country, the Grey running at nine knots, was in high flood to-day. ~ Two bridges spanning the Seven Mile Creek at Dunollie were washed awayone at the Castlepoi.it Mine and the other at Smith and rarty's Co-opcrat.ve coal mine, which are practically alo g side each other. Rising to a great hoi-rht, the flooded creek also carried away 10 or 11 coal trucks on the bridge and several of these were found later some three miles down the stream near Rapahoe township.

Timber Against Bridge Quantities of timber were washed against the traffic bridge on the main Grcymouth-Westport road at the Seven Mile, causing the creek to overflow and wash out portion of the approach on the Grevniouth side. The road is still negotiable, but motorists are required to exercise the greatest care in attempting a crossing. It was thought at first that the flood waters had endangered the hugo steel viaduct leading from the Middle Break to the Liverpool mine mouth at Rcwanui. However, an investigation has revealed that no damage was caused to the structure. Several slips of an extensive nature occurred on the railway line between Dunollie and Rcwanui and it is thought that it will be three or four days before the line is again open. The work of clearing the slips will commence tomorrow, and in the meantime the Luerpool State mine will be idle. Extensive Flooding

There was extensive flooding on the Coal Creek flat between Runanga and Grey mouth, as well as at the camp which is situated a little further on toward Runanga, where several areas were inundated. Traffic was held up, with the result that a number ot Runanga residents were unable to return home and were forced to spend the night in Grevmouth. A relief gang repaired the wash-out at the camp, but at a late hour tonight a considerable quantity of water was lying about the mining areas in the Coal Creek district. Wash-outs of a minor nature occurred on the Grevmouth-Reefton main railway line between Stillwater and Ngahere, but these have been repaired by a gang from Greymouth.