CLOUDBURST IN CLYDECROMWELL GORGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16610, 5 February 1916, Page 4

CLOUDBURST IN CLYDECROMWELL GORGE.

SEYERE DAMAGE TO ROAD AND LINE.

TRANSPORT OF FRUIT AFFECTED.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM LOSS OF LIFE.

Strange as it may seem the damage wrought by tho storm winch burst, m me Cromwell yorge on Monday aHurnoon hao been confined to an area oi about four miles. Moreover, the damage lias been practically couiined to the railway side at trie river. 'the storm lasted only about an hour a-hali, and opinions oilfer on tho point whether there were two or three distinct " plump*."

Go* tig up the river aide from Clyde one reaches Varcoe'a—a mile and'a-hali from the township—beiore any signs of tho flood are to be iseen, but thence onward till Ulark's, near Italian Creek, is reached, tho road and railway line has been lent and torn, and in places covered with thousands of tons of shingle, the stones in some places weighing well over threo tons. Italian Creek is about five miles from Clyde, and there the damage ceases. The first serious damage to bo noticed on the way up from Clyde is at the railway hridgo at Whitaker's Gully, two miles and a-half from the township. Here the line runs outsido the road. The road has been swept away, and the shingle which surrounded the piles of the 100 ft bridge has been sooured out to a depth of Bft or 3ft. A considerable amount of work will be required to build the shingle up again. About a quarter of a mile above the bridge is Mr Ross Robertson's fruit farm— at' Pioneer Flat. The farm has not suffered much damage, but the line and road have been covered with 7000 or 8000 yards of shingle and heavy stones. In fact, the line and road are quite lost to view for a distance of 200 yards. Sorno of the stones were measured, and were estimated to weigh over throe tons. Just beforo reaching Pioneer Flat on the upward journey the engino used in connection with tho laying oi the line wa3 caught between slips and banked up. The engine has now been practically cleared, but although the line running back •to Clyde has also been cleared the, locomotive cannot be brought down until the bridge at Whitaker's Ureek has been temporarily strengthened. The next serious damage is about four miles from Clyde, where thd railway has sunk a little, and is covered with tons of debris. Another half a mile further on a short distance of the line has been scoured out, and the rails and sleepers now form a bridge. Just beforo reaching the bluff at Champagne Bill's, tho line crosses the road, and runs next the steep hills. A slip from a gorge here has shot right through the line and covered the road. The rails have been carried away for a distance of 40 yards. A little higher up the line crosses again to the river side, and is in good order for a short distance.

Four miles and a-half from Clyde is Mr Doig's fruit farm —or at least it was a. farm. Now it is a scene of desolation. From the mouth of the gorge here to the river bank ifl about a quarter of a mile. The locality is in the form of a V, the point of the letter being in the gorge and the. house being situated near the centre of the angle. The road and line ran through the bottom part of the farm. From the gorge mouth to the river bank is now one mass of shingle and stone. Not a vestige of grassy paddocks or fruit trees is to be seen. That none of the family lost their lives must be accounted something of a miracle. The house is a five-roomed concrete building, and Mr and Mrs Doig, Mr Doig, sen., a lady, and the two children were sitting at a meal about 3 o'clock, when, without the slightest warning, the flood water and stones struck the back of the house. The back door was broken in, and a mass cf stuff tore through and carried away the front door. The occupants by the greatest good fortune managed to get oat on to the front verandah, and stood up on a small parapet which runs along its front The roar of the water is stated to have been terrific, and if any of the family had slipped off the parapet they must have been swept away. The honse is now a wreck, and part of one corner has been broken clear, away. Had the building been of wood there seems no doubt that it would have been carried into the river. The furniture has been twisted about, and the house is half filled with mad, stones, and sand. No sign can be seen of a glass house which ran alongside the building, and a wooden outhouse, 20ft long, has also disappeared. The greatest sympathy is felt, for Mr Doig in his heart-breaking experience. His monetary loss is set down at over £1000. His farm, is now a field of stones.

Italian Creek is a little way above Doig's, and here a temporary railway bridge was swept away, only the rails and sleepers being left hanging. On Thursday Mr C. J. M'Kenzie (district engineer), Mr J. B. Menzies (Vincent County engineer), Mr Langbein (engineer in charge of the Clyde-Cromwell line), and Mr Marks (engineer at the Maaorburn works) paid a visit of inspection to the gorge. Mr M'Kenzie states that it will cost, roughly, about £1000 to put fhe railway in order again, and Mr Menzies flays that about £400 will be required to repair the road. In some places there will be no attempt to clear the stones from the roadway—it will simply go over the top of the obstruction. Mr Menzies considers that he will have the road fit for wheeled traffic in a week to 10 days' time. Mr M'Kenzie says it will take .about three months permanently to fix up the line, though temporary communication will be restored within the next fortnight About 40 men have been put on to repair both road and line.

Mr \V. Spain and another gentlemaii came right over the broken road on Thursday afternoon. Mr Spain had a very quiet horse and a light trap. On reaching slips or washouts the driver and passenger got down, and the horse was led over she obstructions. "When one has seen the railway line and road it can be understood that Mr Spain achieved quite a, feat. People desiring to travel from- Cromwell to Clyde are brought down the gorge as far as Clark's (near Italian Creek) in xhe motor coach, and have to complete the journey to Clyde on foot. A small number can be crossed over the_ river in a chair, whence they are taken in a trap, on Annand's side, to Clyde. Only a light vehicle can be used on this side in the meantime, as the road is a bit heavy in two or three places. Consequently those who cannot' secure a seat in the trap have to walk. Mr J. Webb (president of the Cromwell Fruitgrowers' Association) came down to Clyde on Thursday morning and made arrangements for half a ton of fruit to be brought to Italian Creek. It was then taken over the river in the chair, and brought down the road on Annand's side to Clyde. The holding up of traffic must mean a severe monetary loss to the Cromwell fruitgrowers. A small quantity of fruit was sent to Dunedin by way of Queenstown, hut the distance from Cromwell is too far to send any large amount. Mr Webb sold close on a ton of his apricots at Cromwell by auction on Thursday afternoon, when cases of from 201b to 261b were sold at Is each.

TRAFFIC TO CROMWELL.

NEED FOR PROMPT RESUMPTION. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL, February 4. The absence of any official statement icgarding the possible resumption of traffic between Clyde and Cromwell is causing great anxiety in the Upper Clutha districts. especially amongst the wool growers, as a very Large quantity of wool is awaiting despatch for the third ajid final wool sale in Dunedin tliree weeks hence. One grower alone has 500 bales to forward, and others up to 100 bales. The suspension of traffic is also serious to fruit growers and farmers, the former suffering severely, as the fruit is coming in rapidly. It is very necessary that the authorities should make special efforts 'o provide a way for heavy traffic at the earliest opportunity, as a rough track over the affected area, will not encourage carriers, whoso loading is exceptionally heavy. Unless the way is cleared very soon the men on the land will be heavy losers. The position calls for the greatest possible degree of activity. THE WATERSPOUT IN CENTRAL OTAGO TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—The report of the flood at Galloway in your paper of the 2nd seems to me to bo misleading in the respect that it says that hundreds of tons of debris were piled on the bridge to a depth of 15ft. Tho force of the -water at that particular spot gave the debris no ohatwe to accumulate. With regard to tho catering, it should be stated that in fairness to the neighbours in, the vicinity of the washout, they are all deserting of mention.---I am, etc., G&DowaQ?, February 4. VxonV.