THE PAEROA FLOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 147, 24 June 1898, Page 5

THE PAEROA FLOOD.

TRAFFIC NI'MUOirSLY INTKH-

HUPTED.

(P.y Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

TAEROA, )h!s day

Yesterdny's flood occasioned considerable damage and great inconvenience through the blocking of traffic. 'Plio railway line Inwards Te A'rohn is washed clean of ballast in several places, and the inspector considers 1 raffle cannot possibly he resumed before a week. The. 'formation' between I'aeroa and Thames is swept, away in many places. The road to Komafa is so badly blocked by slips and bridges swept away that all traffic even on foot is impossible.

The new* Waitekauri bridge at the junction of Wai hi and Waitekanri 'Woui'ls was swept; away.

The road to Karangahake is blocked by liavy siips, and has lost a small

bridge. Mr Armstrong, County Engineer.has all available men out effecting repairs, but th(> roads will not be passable before next. week.

In Paeroa yesterday afternoon almost the whole of the lower township from the Royal Mail was under water. Parties were out all the afternoon retrieving1 women and children from houses surrounded by water.

Mr Forrest, and his family, residing near the Junction, had to leave in a boat.

The river is now wel down, but it has left a scene of desolation behind it.

Mr Gordon, of Wajtekanri, and Mr Crimmins, the. Waihi mail carrier, have jpust arrived with the mails on packhorses. They report that the road is blocked through Knrnngahake Gorge, numerous slips having made it impossible 1o get wheeled traffic flirough before Wednesday. Two bridges are gene at Wailcano.

Mr Crimmins, driving Hunter's mail coach from Waihi yesterday, attempted to cross the creek at Waikino,where a bridge had been swept away. His horses got across, but the coach had to be taken out with a block and tackle.

It was the mose serious flood, ever known in this district. No news has yet come from the out-districts, but the damage there is,undoubtedly serious.