TARANAKI FLOOD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 159, 18 April 1938, Page 3

TARANAKI FLOOD

THE WORST FOR TEN YEARS. SLIPS ON ROADS AND RAILWAYS. (Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, April 10. Slips and wash-outs have occurred on almost every road and railway line, and bridges have been washed away by the most serious floods for years in East Taranaki. They followed prolonged torrential rain in the area between Whangarnomoana and Stratford. Yesterday communication by road was completely disorganised, and with the whole district affected it appears likely to be some time before it can be fully restored.

■lt is easily the worst flood for 10 years. Rain began to fall on Wednesday and became heavier on Thursday, and through the night it came down in sheets with scarcely a break until the fall eased yesterday afternoon. In the meanwhile, rivers, normally little more than creeks, had! been swollen by rains pouring off the hills, the soil of which is not very porous, and steep hillsides began to slide. Bringing 370 passengers for Taranaki and Wanganui from Auckland and Main Trunk stations, the train that left Auckland at 10 o’clock on Thursday night arrived at 2.15 a.m. to-day, instead of '9.30 a.m. yesterday. Slips at both ends of the Kiore tunnel on the Stratford-Main Trunk section of the line caused the train to be held up at Whangamomoana yesterday morning, pending the arrangement of road! transport over the gap. The blocked roads were cleared earlier than was expected, and this led to the abandonment of those plans, the train returning to Taumaiunui, to travel to N,ew Plymouth via Alarton and Wanganui. Floods and torrential rain have been reported on Mount Eigmont during the last few doys. The worst flood for several years occurred in the Kapuni river at Dawson Falls on Wednesday night, and the site of the old! powerhouse was completely covered. The rain which fell at North. Egmont Hostel on Tuesday overflowed the rain gauge, which measured up to llin.