Floods In The Grey River
Blackball Bridge Again Suffers, but is Speedily Repaired

On account of the proximity of the Southern Alps to the sea from which moisture-laden westerlies blow, the climate of Westland is very wet. Although the rainfall ranges from 70 inches per annum on the coast to 200 inches in the mountains it would be unfair to assert that it is always raining in Westland. The New Zealand Year Book reveals that the sunshine averages nearly 2,000 hours per annum in this part of the Dominion.

The rivers of Westland follow steep and rocky courses and after the torrential downpours in the mountains they become turbulent cascades. Their powers of corrosion and erosion cause much anxiety to bridge builders.

On 4th November last, bridge No. 1 crossing the Grey River on the Ngahere-Blackball line, was wrecked for the third time during 12 months. The collapse of two eighty feet and two twenty feet spans effectively blocked communication with Blackball and Roa, for this bridge serves both rail and road traffic. For four days these townships remained in isolation, but on the 8th idem cage communication (see illustration No. 4 below) was installed.

Nos. 1, 2, 3, views of the wrecked Blackball Bridge. No. 4. cage which provided only means of communication with Blackball and Roa until bridge was restored.

Re-erection was carried on with all expedition and on 27th November train traffic was resumed. The efforts of all concerned in the speedy re-establishment of communication earned the warmest appreciation of the residents.