RAILWAY COMMUNICATION AND THE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 13

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION AND THE WEATHER.

SLIPS ON THE NORTHERN LINE.

ACCIDENT TO A SURFACEMAN.

The "heavy rain which commenced to fall on Monday morning and continued throughout the day again resulted in railway communication with the North being interrupted. No less than three slips occurred on Monday bdtwecn Dunedin and Oamaru; The railway authorities here first received intimation that the express train was delayed at a place known as Bell Hill, about quarter of a mile north of Waikouaiti, owing to a slip having occurred on the lino there. In consequence of this slip tho 3.20 train from Dunedin to Oamaru, which usually crosses the express at Goodwood, went on to Waikouaiti. Tho passeugers wero then transferred from one train to the other, and those from the express were brought on towards Dunedin. They, however, met with two more, mishaps by the way, and were moreover prevented from reaching their destination altogether last night. After the first delay to the train, it was found on arriving at a place about a mile and a half north of Seacliff that progress was impeded by another slip on the line. The Palmerston train, which leaves Dunedin at 4.20, however, came to the rescue, and the passengers, after changing trains for the second time, again sped on their way to Dunedin. But when they got to Waitati, about 9.15, they found that they would have to remain there for the night, as a slip had occurred at Purakanui cliffs, which had determined the Railway department not to take any further risks, but to detain the whole train.

It appears that ever since the slip about three weeks ago the line at the cliffs is in rather a dangerous condition, as small slips are frequently taking place, and a gang of men are employed there to keep the line clear. On Monday evening a serious accident happened to one of the men working on the line, named Gideon Williamson. A stone from the cliffs rolled down and struck him on the head, fracturing the skull. Mr Grant, traffic manager, after receiving information of the accident, despatched a train from Dunedin to Purakatui, with a doctor to attend to the injured man, and an engineer to endeavour to get the line cleared by the morning. This train returned to Dunedin shortly after 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning, with Williamson on board. He was taken to the hospital at onre, where he was attended to by Drs Roberts and Fleming.