TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 8

TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR

WEST COAST DELUGE SERIES OF LANDSLIPS ONE FATALITY REPORTED [ Per Ficsb Association.] GREYMOUTH, March 21. Following rams for some days there occurred shortly’ after mid-day a terrific downpour exceeding an inch an hour. The effect was a widespread series of landslips in many localities throughout the Grey and Westland districts, the largest of which was on the Omoto Road at the first bend outside Greymouth. Right from the hili top an enormous mass of rock, earth and trees slid down upon the road and the railway line. The slipping continued for a couple of hours until at 2.35 p.m. the whole nob of the hill fell. Six borough workmen engaged in claring the debris had to rush to safety. One tripping over a shovel dropped by another barely got clear. It was fortunate that one workman noticed the whole hillside move and signalled the retreat. Tens ot thousands of tons of debris fell, probably carrying away the road and also breaking the underground cables conveying the electric supply to Greymouth. The town was without current till 5 p.m., when the power board obtained a supply from Westland. The power is limited.

It is believed that the retaining wall on the road side of the railway also has been demolished. Both the Telegraph and Railway Departments’ lines running along the side of the railway were severed, while the poles at both sides of the slip for some distance were twisted. It is expected to take a week to clear the Omoto Road and railway traffic possibly will be held up for a similar period. It is intended to-morrow to start sluicing the slip awry, but further slips are likely from the greasy back. Meantime the transport of timber and coal by rail from Greymouth will be prevented. Another slip in Greymouth occurred in Shakespeare Street behind the Rewa Maternity Hospital damaging the corner of the structure. Eight patients had to be removed. Mud entered most of the rooms. The railway service to Hokitika is interrupted by a slip at Kapitea Creek and Waimea Creek overflowed at Stafford, residents having to evacuate their homes. At Awatuna the schoolmistress, Miss Hill, got her car into a crevasse on the Awatuna Road but two men towed the vehicle to safety out of the flood. School children were in the car with her. The road is much damaged. Road traffic to Hokitika was restored at 4 p.m. There have been numerous slips in the Kumara district, especially on Greenstone Road, isolating the sawmill for probably some days. Some flooding occurred in Kumara, while a fatality happened nearby in a sluicing claim at Cape Terrace, Alexander Brooker, aged 45, being crushed by a fall of earth from the face against the water race. He was dead when his mate returned to the claim after having crib. Brooker leaves a wife and family residing in Christchurch.

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE [ Per Press Association.] HOKITIKA, March 21. Heavy rain during the past few days became worse during the night, causing heavy floods throughout Westland to-day. Many districts report substantial flood damage and the rivers everywhere are at a very high level. Flood waters broke through below the protective works at Koitcrangi and the Arahura Valley was again inundated. The damage is not estimated.