The Landslips on the Southern Railway.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6312, 9 August 1888, Page 4

The Landslips on the Southern Railway.

The Otago Daily Times states that no less than three slip 3 occurred on Monday between Dunedin and Oamaru. The railway authorities first received intimation that tho express train was delayed at a place known as Bell Hill, about a quarter of a mile North of Waikouaiti, owing to a slip having occurred on the line there. In consequence of this slip the twenty minutes past three train from Dunedin ta Oamaru, which usually crosses the express at Goodwood, went on to "Waikouaiti. The passengers were then transferred from one train to the other, nnd 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 that 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 lino. The Palmerstou train, which leaves Dunedin at 4.20, however, came to the rescue, and the pa3sengei*3, after changing trains for the second time, a-.'ain sped on their way to Dunedin. But when they got to Waitati, about 9.15, they found that they would havo to remain there for the night, as a slip had occurred at Purakanui cliffs, which had determined the Eailway Department not to take any further risks, but to detain the whole train. It appears that ever since the slip about three we_*ks ago the line at the cliffs is in rather a dangerous condition, as small slipß are frequently taking place, and a gang of men are employed there to keep tho line clear. 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 1 tho skull. Mr Grant, traffic manager-, after receiving information of the accident, despatched a train from Dunedin to Purakanui, with a doctor to attend to the injured man, and an engineer to endeavour to get tho line cleared by the morning. This train returned to Dnnedin shortly after one o'clock in the morning, with Williamson, on board. He was taken to the Hospital at once, where he was attended to by Drs Roberts and Fleming.