HEAVY LANDSLIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23071, 23 June 1938, Page 12

HEAVY LANDSLIDE

hillside breaks away LENGTH OF ROAD COVERED RAINSTORM NEAR WELLINGTON [BY TELEGBAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A whole hillside broke away in today's southerly rainstorm to completely obliterate 50 yards of the Lower Newlands Road, leading up from the Ngahauranga Gorge Road. This created a blockage of tens of thousands of tons of rock, rubble and soil. The slip occurred this morning, starting with a tremendous roar, which reverberated through the valley, along the top of which the cliffside road runs to serve residents in the north-eastern part of Newlands. They will still be able to get access to the main road via the Upper Newlands Road. The slip is at least 15ft. up from the road and spreads across it and for a considerable distance down the valley face. A rush of waters from Newlands Valley reached its peak under the railway bridge, and travelled down the main road to the Hutt Road junction. Gravel and soil blocked normal outlets, choked drains and created an expanse of water which completely covered the Gorge Road from the bridge to the far side of the Hutt Road. From there the waters spread north and south, isolating for some time a butcher's shop near the corner of the two main highways and covering the railway lino inside the meat works entrance for some 40 yards. Steady rain throughout most of the day and low temperatures made to-day depressing in Wellington. Frequently the southerly wind reached gale force and at times there wore heavy showers.