Slip Carries Away Water Pipeline

When a large slip came down in January's bad weather and carried away three chains of the pipeline which supplies Gisborne with water, city residents were forced to put up with muddy water for about a fortnight while urgent repairs were carried out.

The slip occurred in the Te Arai valley about a mile and a half above the Waingake settling tank.

In the wet weather which continued for some time after the break, City Council men had an unenviable job as they struggled with the repairs. Nine 15-inch pipes had to be towed up the valley one by one by the waterworks jeep, a trench had to be blasted in solid papa after the debris was cleared off the slip, and the new pipes fitted.

Pictures on these pages are by Mr R. B. Hudson, Mr J. Sutherland, and "Photo News".

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The fractured pipeline at the slip, showing the city's water supply going "down the drain".

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Viewed from the flooded Te Arai river, the task of renewing the pipeline looked difficult, to say the least.

A bulldozer and Land Rover were rushed in to the site of the slip, making 12 crossings of the flooded river on the way. At times the easiest path for the bulldozer was up the river itself. Meanwhile the city was supplied with muddy water direct from the river to keep the supply going.

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Bulldozer nears slip

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Land Rover brings men to job

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A view of the slip from across the valley, taken as the work neared completion.