TOUR DELAYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 154, 1 July 1937, Page 8

TOUR DELAYED.

ACTING-PRIME MINISTER.

ISOLATED AT WHANGAREI,

(By Telcgranh.—Special to '■Star.'*)

WHANGAREI, this day. As Whangarei is isolated owing to floods, the acting-Prime Minister, the

Hon. P. Fraser, has been unable to extend his tour to Kaikohe and Kawakawa, as was planned. This morning Mr. Fraser went on a brief tour, of the town and saw flood waters swirling through some of the principal streets, and bare-footed shopkeepers busy with buckets, mops and brooms trying to get water out of their premises. POSITION IN CITY. ! FEW AREAS FLOODED. Despite the almost continuous rain which has been falling for the past few days, there were few signs of flooding in the low-lying areas in Auckland this

morning. A tour of the city and environs revealed only one temporary lake-— alongside the railway line between Ellerslie and Penrose. All the other places where floods have come to be expected after heavy rains are comparatively dry. Eden Park is sodden, but there is no surface water, while Oribbleliurst Park, which was once known as Cabbage Tree swamp in those days, was a favourite resort for small boys with makeshift punts, is also free from water. The one "lake" near Ellerslie is about an acre in extent. Already hundreds of seagulls have made it their temporary home, while a few ducks are waddling about its shores. Clumps of blackberry are sticking up forlornly through the water, but they do not look nearly so forlorn as a horse which stands with drooping head watching the flood which covers half its pasture ground. Some of the lower parts of Avondale showed the results of rain this afternoon. There was a small lake covering one part of Holly Street, but the position was not serious, and no disorganisation was caused.