WEST COAST STORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 12

WEST COAST STORM

HEAVY KAIN CONTINUES MAIN' HIGHWAY CLOSED MIDLAND RAILWAY BLOCKAGE [«Y TELEGRAPH—OWN COIIUKSI'ONDBNT] < ' GREYMOUTH, : Tuesdajr After an abatement of barely 12 hours stormy ■. conditions set; in ' again on the West. Coast this afternoon and, coupled with heavy rain, there, tyas a strong north-westerly wind, - severe flashes 'of lightning and,/ deafening thunder. All ( rivers remain flooded and; there has been 'a resumption of heavy rain inland. :

The Greymouth-Westport coastal road is still receiving a buffeting from heavy seas at Fagin's Creek. It is closed to traffic, and traffic is using a detour via Recfton and the Buller Gorge.

Further shoaling has occurred at the berthages at the Greymouth Wharf and rough seas on the bar caused it to remain unworkable. Efforts to dredge the berthages .have been nullified by strong and repeated freshes. The Kaiiniro, loaded for Wellington, was aground at low water, while the Kakapo's loading cannot be completed until the run in the Grey River moderates. The Karepo remains in tho roadstead awaiting an opportunity to berth and discharge her sugar cargo. A serious slip occurred between Otira and Aickens on the Midland Railway and prevented the Christch urch-Grey-Tiiouth express from travelling beyond Otira yesterday. Officials said to-day that it was expected that the line would be open for express traffic in a short time, although passenger cars would have to be propelled over a temporary bridge which was not sufficiently strong to take the weight of a locomotive. The Liverpool Mine will be idle owing to the blockage causing a shortago of trucks.

Two motor-lorries were caught in the Karangarua River, south of and the drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles and spend the night on tho only unflooded portion of the rv ; er bed. The vehicles were both - brought out by a bulldozer. At one stage only tho tops of the cabs were visible.

VISITATION IN ALPS 100 MILES AN HOUR GALE LIGHTNING SHATTERS TREE [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] GREYMOUTH, Tuesday Eye-witnesses of an electrical storm which raged in the Otira district early yesterday afternoon describe it as the worst visitation in years. Coupled with an incessant downpour of rain was a wind of high velocity, which reached an estimated speed of from 90 to 100 miles an hour. Near Otira lightning struck a tree 50ft. in height and two feet in diameter and shattered it, the tree narrowly missing a house in its fall. One of the chimney tops above the diningroom at the Otira refreshment rooms was blown over and fell through, a skylight, narrowly missing a man who was walking below.

NIGHT SPENT AT. OTIRA DANCE FOR PASSENGERS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GREYMOUTH. Tuesday Conditions were by no means pleasant for 80 West Coast. bound express Sassengers who decided to wait at tira yesterday, instead of returning to Christchurch, when it was found that the Midland Railway was blocked by a slip. Everything possible was done by the Railway Department officials to make their wait as comfortable as possible. The carriages were kept steamheated during the llight and the refreshment rooms were kept open. A dance was arranged at Otira, in which a great number of the passengers took part. A very able pianist, "a member of a dance band orchestra, happened to be a passenger on the train and he provided the bulk of the dance music.

SOUTH WESTLAND DAMAGE UNUSUALLY HIGH FLOOD [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] GREYMOUTH, Tuesday Itu is reported that damage to the main highway in South Westland runs into several thousand pounds. The major damage is to the northern approach to the Karangarua Bridge, where some thousands of yard of gravel ,and formation have been washed away by an unusually high flood.