RAIN AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 3

RAIN AGAIN.

PROVINCE SOAKED. I GLOOMY PROSPECTS. ROADS MAY BE FLOODED. BAROMETER FALLS SHARPLY. "Tt may be worse!" This was the jrloomy prediction made in various sources where inquiry as to the weather prospect* were made this morning. The fine break ;it tlie be-rirwiiiig of the vear was all t<><> short to allow a rain-sodden pro\ ince to recover. Rain commenced again before midnight. driven by northeasterly wind of varying strength. At nndday the rainfall was approaching one inch and a sharp drop in the barometer was rather an ominous portent. "We are just waiting for news from our pat rids who are scattered again throughout the province," said Mr. R. E. C'hamptaloup. touring manager for the Automobile Association. Auckland. Though the water which accumulated from the lain last week had subsided, many pa its of the province were still very wet. and for this reason flooding was likely to occur quicker than it did last Thursday.

Indications of Flooding. "If the rain does not stop before to-morrow morning there is a likelihood of further dislocation of traffic,said Mr. Champtaloup. "Floods jnay occur in the low lying country and slips on the hills." He ndded that the elimination of many flood levels during last year had resulted in keeping open last week a number of highways, on which in previous bad weather traffic had been held up. Even with continuous wet weather these were not likely to be bad as in former years. This applied in particular to the southern part of the province. It was feared, however, that the water might encroach on some of the roads in the North by this evening, though it would possibly mean continuous rain until to-morrow before there was any serious interference with traffic. At the same time a few hours' break in the rain resulted in wonderfully rapid improvement of affected areas. For the 24-hour period from 9 a.m. yesterday, the rainfall officially recorded was 6-10ths of an inch, making a total of 1.42 for the month. The average rainfall for January is practically three inches, and half that amount had fallen at noon in five days. The barograph at the entrance to the C.P.O. was studied with considerable interest this morning,.for it revealed a sharp and portentous drop. From 29.87, the graph showed a consistent drop since midnight to 29.5 at 11 a.m. The faith of camp dwellers has been sorely tried, ancl though there is a continuous stream of arrivals and departures in the camps about Auckland, the canvas settlements are thinninsr out. Th*re has been a stream of holiday traffic north from Saturday last, and people are still arriving from the southern parts of the island. Northern Road Blocked. A report received from Wliangarei this morning states that the route from Kaikohe to Hokianga is blocked again. In February last year the bridge at Waima carried away and a temporary me had' done service during the year. Last week this structure carried away, and a ford was prepared across the stream during the week-end. However, the rising of the water has now rendered this impassable. Traffic from the north can cross the harbour to Rawene and then come down the coast through the Waipona forest to Dargaville as one alternative. Reports received this afternoon from the north and as far south as Whakatane emphasise that the province is in the grip jl n net her north-easterly storm. In r. r </?t all cases rain recommenced last night and was intensified from the middle of the morning. The wind, too,! increased in velocity, and a report from ' Tiritiri at 1 p.m. stated that it was approaching gale force with heavy seas and rain.