CUTTING BLOCKAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23429, 19 August 1939, Page 14

CUTTING BLOCKAGE

HIGH BANK COLLAPSES LIMITED JUST PASSED MAIN ROAD ALSO CLOSED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] . TAIHAPE. Friday A large slip occurred last night between Mataroa and Ngaurukehu in what is known, as Blue Cutting, situated one and a-quarter miles north of Mataroa and eight and a-quarter miles north of Taihape. The last train to pass through the cutting before the slip came down was the north-bound goods train which passed the limited express from. Auckland at Mataroa, just after the limited had come through tlie cutting. ' Blue Cutting is about 80ft. high on the right-hand side travelling north and approximately 6ft. high on the opposite side. The slips extend from the railway track to a distance of about "40lrt. up the face of the higher side of the cutting and cover about 50ft. of railway line. It is being attacked from both ends by workmen working under cold, bleak conditions with intermittent hail showers.

About 50 men are employed on the task of. clearing the slip, the majority being from Tailiape and Utiku, but there is also a gang from Ohakune. Work trains aro being used at both ends of the slip to cart spoil away, while tip-trolleys are also being utilised. Tho Taihape gang commenced operations about S a.m., but the men from Ohnkune did not arrive until near midday. Many men in tho Taihape gang had spent 12 hours clearing slips between Utiku and Mangaweka. Another work train was despatched to the scene after seven o'clock to-night. A taxi service operated between Taihape and Hihitnhi to-day, the majority of passengers being children on their way home for the school holidays. Mails were also sent by taxi and a quantity of goods by motor-lorry. Every effort was being made to-night to clear the slip, as the main north road is blocked by a big slip at Waiouru.