HEAVY FLOOD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20283, 18 April 1934, Page 7

HEAVY FLOOD.

BRIDGE ON OTIRA LINE AFFECTED. All Trains Held Up. RAILWAY GANGS REPAIRING DAMAGE. Train and telegraphic communication with the West Coast was interrupted last night as the result of heavy rain at Otira, which caused washouts at a railway bridge near Poerua, on the Midland line. Xo trains left Christchurch or Greymouth to-day. Although the Railway Department has big gangs at work on both ends of the bridge, it is not expected that communication will be restored until some time to-morrow, as heavy rain is still falling on the West Coast. The running of nine trains was affected last .night as a result of the washouts. Perishable goods on the night goods train from Christchurch, due at Greymouth at 4.10 a.m., were transferred across the washouts to a relief train, which arrived at Greymouth about midday. This morning, however, the bridge w r as reported to be unsafe even for foot traffic. Heavy rain, especially in the Inchbonnie district, resulted in a slip damming a creek near the bridge. The dam gave way, releasing a large body of water which caused considerable damage to the road. The railway line has been deeply scoured. The bridge apparently has suffered little damage. Tons of Logs Brought Down. The work of restoring communication has been rendered doubly difficult by the fact that nearly one hundred tons of logs brought down by the flooded creek have backed up against the bridge. The washout at the eastern end of the bridge is fifty feet long and twelve feet deep, while the one at the western end is. ten feet deep. Scouring is still going on, and all the timber must be removed before repair work can be. started. Since rain is still falling, it is impossible to say definitely when trains will be able to go through. Poerua is about 17* miles west of Otira, and work trains from both the Greymouth and Otira ends of the line are being used in the repair operations. Another washout took place on the main road between Otira and Jacksons, road traffic being held up. Other minor slips are reported to have taken place, but little damage has been done. Seven Inches of Rain. Telegraphic communication was interrupted as the result of trouble on the line somewhere between Otira and Greymouth. All the West Coast circuit was affected, but while the fault w*as being located, messages to Christchurch were put through Westport and Blenheim. Communication was restored shortly before twelve o’clock, and the line was carrying traffic soon afterwards. While Christchurch was sweltering under nor’-west conditions, torrential rain was falling at Otira. At nine o clock this morning, 7.87 inches of rain had fallen in twentv-four hours, and at noon there was still a light drizzle, which showed signs of becoming .heavier. Rain been falling at Arthur’s Pass since Sunday night, and six inches had fallen in twenty-four hours at nine o’qlock this morning. At noon rain was still falling heavily. Trains To morrow. The Railway Department advises ™ at if* will be able to get the first train through to the Coast at about 10 a.m to-morrow. The train leaving Christchurch at 10 a.m. will be able to get across the lines, and it will not be necessary for passengers to detrain.