MANAWATU GORGE SLIP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19825, 30 December 1938, Page 7

MANAWATU GORGE SLIP

PROGRESS IN CLEARING WORK BY FLOODLIGHTS (Tor Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., this day. Eight days have now elapsed since the big slip occurred in the Manawatu Gorge, bringing 4000 cubic yards of material to the main highway towards the Palmerston North end Appreciable progress has been made in clearing operations. Commencing at 10 p.m. on December 21, a mechanical shovel, which was brought from Milson deviation, continued throughout the night, all day Thursday and into Friday night, ceasing at 2 a.m. on Saturday. The floodlights for which electric power is generated by a crude oil motor, throw a 2000 candlepower light on to the hill lace each night and since then have been kept on throughout the hours of darkness as a safety measure. Resuming steady work yesterday, the mechanical shovel has now made a considerable impression on the face of the slip, which is about three chains wide. A considerable amount of loose material will be freed from the top portion and an investigation of this part may show that other falls are imminent. It is possible also that a secondary slip may develop at the top of the present one, although, it should not be of the large dimensions of the main fall.