RAKAIA RAILWAY BRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7025, 2 December 1890, Page 3

RAKAIA RAILWAY BRIDGE.

Piles Washed Away. Traffic Interrupted. Express Passengers Trollied Over. [By Telbgbaph.] [feom oub own cobbespondent.] BAKAIA, Dec. 2. It was discovered this morning that some damage was sustained to the Bakaia bridge, and the first train from Ashburton could not proceed. It remained at Bakaia ! till nearly ten o'clock, and then proceeded as far on the bridge as could be managed with safety, where the passengers and luggage were transferred on trollies to the other eide, meeting the first train from Christchiircb.. This caused a delay of some forty minutes. Passengers by the ezpreßß will require Bimilar treatment, as it is unsafe for a train to croaa. The damage is near the centre of the river, where the heavy stream is running, and for two spans there is a depression of some 'six or seven inches. Several piles are jußt hanging, and two are gone. It is surmised that the damage was done when the stock train passed over early this morning. Every effort will be made to repair the damage as soon as possible, and it is expected that ordinary traffic will be resumed with but a few days' delay. In the meantime travellers mußt be thankful that it is no worse, and put up with a little inconvenience. There is a lot of water coming down, and where the damage is, two heavy streams join. Were it not for the strong stays put in some time ago, nothing could save the bridge. Every possible arrangement has been made by the Bail way department to take passengers across by means of trollies, and convey them on to their destination by train. At noon the river was reported to be still rising, and rendering the bridge more unsafe j it was, therefore, doubtful whether the South express passengers would be enabled to cross. From further enquiries made, it was ascertained that the passengers' luggage *nd mails of this morning's express were successfully trollied over. The express stopped at Bankside, where the transfer of the passengers and their belongings to trollies was effected. The operation of conveying them acroas the injured bridge was effected with, the utmost cire. A train aud carriages from Ashburton were wait■ng on the southern side to take them 01 <;ueir journey. Six piles of the bridge have i.een undermined by the flood, and it is .xp.-cted that ordinary traffic over it will be suspended till .Friday next. The Bakaia bridge is the longest in the Colony, being nearly a mile in length, with twenty feet spans, supported on ironbark piles. It was one of the bridges built by Mr William White, under contract with the Provincial Government, and was originally constructed for ordinary traffic, and altered and strengthened subsequently to fit it for railway purposes. The bridge was commenced about 1870 and in 1873 it was opened for traffic ; but previous to its being used for the railway a new pier was placed under every Bpan. When the bridge was taken over by the General Government the rails were laid under the supervision of Mr G. P. Williams, who was District Engineer i the time. Owing to the encroachments of the river at the banks the bridge had frequently to be lengthened.