THAMES ISOLATED.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 5

THAMES ISOLATED.

LARGE AREA SUBMERGED. RESIDENTIAL AREA FLOODED. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") THAMES, this day. Thames is completely isolated from the south in consequence of a heavy easterly gale which raged last night. Kauaeranga River rose quickly, overflowed its banks, and ran into the residential area at Parawai.. attaining a height not previously experienced. At high tide (5 a.m.) the storm water Isolated houses in a large area. Either a metal punt, which had broken away, or kauri logs fouled the main traffic bridge, which, being old, was unable to stand the strain and broke in the middle span. The punt afterwards broke in half one of the piles of the new traffic bridge. Part of the punt is still wedged on the railway bridge, which the weight of water is menacing. No trains have arrived or departed today. Two valuable punts belonging to Mr. Kerby, owner of the ferry service to Hauraki Plains, were washed out to sea and sunk. Two fishing launches suffered the same fate. Even when the tide was out the storm water was still covering a large area of Parawai, the racecourse being submerged. There is evidence of heavy rain inland. Other points of Thames have not suffered, proving the efficacy of the new flood prevention works. A gale is still raging, accompanied by heavy rain. The full extent of the damage to public works is not yet ascertainable. The opinion is expressed that if the new groins recently erected at Parawai had not been there the river would have forced a new course right through the town. ,