TOLL OF STORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23594, 1 March 1940, Page 6

TOLL OF STORM

WEST COAST SWEPT DISTRICT ISOLATED ROAD AND RAIL BLOCKED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE [bt TELEGRAPH —OWN* cob respondent] GKEYMOUTH, Thursday The whole of the West Coast suffered from one of the severest electrical storms in many years Inst night, llnin poured down in sheets, accompanied by most vivid flashes of sheet lightning, loud peals of thunder and a high northwesterly wind at times reaching gale force. The storm continued throughout the night and caused damage that must run into many thousands of pounds through erosion of road, rail and farm lands, and the destruction of bridges. All streams are in their highest flood in years and all road and rail eornnumieations with the east coast have been severed. Several days must elapse before communication can be restored on anv of the routes.

Several further slips and washouts and a subsidence on the Midland Line between K.aimata and Otira blocked that route, marooning two trains. All the progress on the major slip near Jackson's went for nought with the overnight deluge and the position today was a great deal worse than when both road and rail were blocked on Mond ay.

Road Blotted Out The road over the slip has been blotted out and further large boulders and tree trunks have been carried on to the temporary railway deviation. An extensive wash-out occurred near Otira when a river broke its banks and left several chains of line suspended in the air. A large section of the railway line is under water and two trains, a work train and a goods train, are marooned. Fifteen Hiccarton racehorses engaged at the Motukarara races on Saturday have been unable to return to Canterbury. They reached Jackson s on Tuesday night, but had to be returned to Hokitika. Jt was hoped to w'alk the horses across the slip and rail them again from the Otira side, but this is now out of the question, owing to further damage to the Otira line. Three of the horses, Knight Commander, Studlev Royal and Cape Gabo, are engaged in the Peninsula Cup, an event in which there are only eight acceptors. Rebel Chief is also engaged in a small field. The others are Jed Forest, Miss Tasta, Grey Silk, Shangri La, Metric, Muriet and Improvident, as well as several trotters.

Havoc in Lewis Pass Jt is reliably stated that the Lewis Pass route is not likely to be reopened lor three months. The bridge over the Hope River on the Canterbury side of the Lewis Pass is in bad shape and is likely to be carried away. On one stretch of the highway there is a washout 20ft. deep. The state ot the Otira Gorge route beggars description. There was no outlet from the West Coast to-day. The only service to be maintained was the road service to Westport, passengers and mails being transhipped at Fagin s Creek, where the sea has eroded the highway. The low ceiling and rough weather caused ihe cancellation of the West CoastXelson aeroplane service.

Dredge Workers Marooned In the Araliura Valley Malfrov's Bridge was washed away and dredge workers on the Araliura were to-day marooned at work and men for succeeding shifts could not get to work. On the Kumara-Otira highway the approaches to the Wainihihi Bridge were washed out. Residents there to-day telephoned stating that thev were isolated. They state that the Teremakau River is at its highest for 60 years and has caused untold damage. The rainfall in Greymouth for the two months up to nine o'clock this morning was 32.21 in. There have been only 14 days 011 which rain did not fall.

The Railway Department is advising merchants who are in need of supplies to obtain them from Nelson or from Canterbury through Nelson. The chief shortages are flour and sugar. The Dobson mine was the only district colliery operating to-day and will work again to-morrow. Unless shipping movements and rail traffic are resumed Dobson and all the smaller district mines mav be idle next week.

MAROONED ON ISLAND SETTLERS B ESC FED BY POLICE [ 11Y TEf.KOKAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GREYMOUTH. Thursday Two families were marooned when the Taramakau River broke its banks at the Taramakau settlement ibis morning and as the water continued to rise the Greymouth police were asked to bring a boat to rescue them. A boat was obtained from the Greymouth HarHour Board and the journey over a back-country road was accomplished in an hour and a-half. When the party arrived the river had receded a little and the families remained on the island to milk their cows. Conditions later became worse, however, and the settlers were obliged to leave the island.

THE AWAKINO GORGE FIRST CAR GETS THROUGH ROUTE FOR ONE-WAY TRAFFIC [hy TELEGRAPH —OWN con respondent] TE KUITI, Thursday Tlio first car to travel through the Awnkino Gorge arrived in Mokau about 4.M0 this afternoon and has since returned to Te Kuiti. Only a one-way track has been cleared and motorists should note that the road from Mahoenni to Mokau, although open, is one for experienced drivers travelling by day only—the road is closed at night. Only light traffic is permitted. K the present rain continues there is a possibility that the road may be closed again, but although some of the slips are still creeping the Public Works Department hopes to keep the route open for one-way traffic. A bulldozer and a half-yard excavator will start work to-morrow morning.