ROADS IMPASSABLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 239, 23 July 1935, Page 7

ROADS IMPASSABLE

FLOODS IN NORTH AUCKLAND. WORST FOR MANY YEARS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 22. All road and rail communication between Auckland and the north lias been cut off by a series of floods, slips, and washouts between Warkworth and Maungaturoto, which have made all routes impassable. Advice received late to-night was that rain nas still falling heavily, that the flood waters in most cases continued to rise, and that it was most improbable that any traffic could get through until late to-morrow. The worst flooding has occurred m the Warkworth and Wellsford district, where more than four inches of rain fell between 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 o’clock yesterday morning. With the ground already waterlogged as the result of previous rains throughout the north, the rivers and streams were swelled with unusual rapidity, and Auckland motorists who passed through the area before the roads became impassable, report that 0 streams were pouring down every hillside gully. Early in the day many ol the roadls were covered, and by nightfall there were several points where the floods were three feet and more deep over the roads. The worst flood for many years is reported -to have occurred near the Hoteo railway station. The hue was covered to a depth of three feet at 6 p.m., and the water was still using at that time. The railway bridge over the Hoteo river, the planking of which is normally eight feet above the water level, was covered In the Kaipara Plats aiea the roads were made impassable eai y ' the day, and it is thought that on some portions of the road therewas nearly 10 feet of water to-ni o ht. The flats near Wayby formed almost an unbroken sheet of water, w 0 extended up the Whanganpo valley for six miles, and down towaid Kaipara. Several mmor slips occurred in Dome valley during the day, but these were cleared through the prompt action of 1 üblic Moik. Department gangs. A more serious development was the .encroachment of flood waters at a point near whe e the stream had been recently diverted. An extensive washout occurred, about half the load sip ping away. Although it was possible for cars to move very slowly along the remainder of the road, it was feared that a further encroachment might take place. A further blockage on this route was caused by serious flooding at the Hoteo bridge. Several Auckland motorists who had set out early in tne day were piloted by Automobile Association patrols over the roads immediately north of Takapuna, and at Dairy Flat, where there was a depth of about 18 inches of water in places, but were held up for some time m Dome Valley, while the slips were being cleared away. Through the good work of the gangs on the job, the cars eventually got through. in the meantime; however, water had been rising at the Hoteo bridge near Wavby, and although these care negotiated the floods safely', later motorists were not so fortunate the water was reported late to-night to he considerably more than thiee feet deep, and several motor-cars had to be towed out. . Although 2.69 in, of rain fell m 44 hours up to 9 o’clock this morning at Whangaxei, the position is not as serious as south of Maungaturoto. Nevertheless, a large slip is reported to have come down near Maungaturoto at the entrance to the Waipu 1 Gorge. It is reported to be. from three to four chains long and will probably require more than a day to clear. Traffic win, however, be able to proceed from Maungaturoto to Waipu via Dargaville, a long der tour, but one which was stated to be still open. >

WET SUNDAY IN CITY. SPORTS AREAS INUNDATED. AUCKLAND, July 22. Yesterday was one of the wettest Sundays Auckland has had for a long time. After a fine day on Saturday, rain began at night and the total fall to 9 o’clock to-day was 3.82 inches. The excessive' fall caused flooding m low-lying suburbs. Tennis courts, bowling greens, and playing fields generally were flooded, and the Auckland domain became a sea of water. In Mount. Roskill the residents of some houses watched the water l ising all night and this morning were practically marooned. The Takapuna racecourse was completely covered by water banked up by a high tide. The rainfall to date, 6.91 inches, is considerably above the July average. At noon more rain appeared probable.