INCH OF RAIN IN TEN MINUTES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22464, 27 July 1938, Page 10

INCH OF RAIN IN TEN MINUTES

♦ AUCKLAND STREETS FLOODED WATER IN SHOPS AND THEATRES > TRAIN DERAILED AT CROSSING (riESS ASSOCTATIOS TKLZOZAJt.) AUCKLAND, July 26. The heaviest rain that Auckland has experienced for many years fell shortly after 8 o’clock to-night in the latter stages of an electrical storm which began about 6 o’clock, and continued for about three hours. When the downpour was at its maximum, the rain gauge at the office of the “New Zealand Herald” registered one inch in 10 minutes. For a quarter of an hour and more Queen street was a rushing river, the usually efficient stormwater sewer system being quite unable to cope with the flood. Water entered a number of shops and some theatres; but the worst damage was done in buildings with rear entrances to Mills lane. Water from the latter covered the whole ground floor of Milne and Choyce, Ltd., to a depth of a couple of inches, and rose about nine inches in the basement. The lounge and bar of the Hotel Auckland were also inundated. The failure of the drainage to carry off the tremendous volume of water in Durham lane resulted in severe floodings of the basement, containing many of the artists’ changing rooms, of His Majesty s Theatre. Rushing through a window below the water swept through corridors and rooms in the basement like a river, covering the floors to a depth of more than four inches. The performance of “Hello Popeye” had been in progress for some time, and in spite of the difficulties from flooding, patrons had little knowledge that anything was amiss, the programme being continued. The performers, some of whom suffered considerable damage to their wardrobes, assisted in clearing water from the basement. Wading knee-deep, they rescued floating trunks, and carried the costumes to the stage level. The fortunate presence of a large sumphole enabled the water to be swept away after about an hour’s work, although the entire basement remained damp. Cars Submerged Torrents flowing down from Albert Park into Kitchener and Wellesley streets, near the public library, submerged motor-cars nearly to the tops of the wheels, the current being so strong that water was swept right over the tops of some of them. Sewer manholes burst at several points in the city and suburbs, and some houses below road level were flooded. A goods train at Avondale was partly derailed at a level crossing through striking the cattle stops, which had been forced up by the flood water. A great deal of debris was carried down West End road. Herne Bay, to a bridge over Cox’s creek, including large stones, which were conveyed gome hundreds of yards by the awter. The electrical storm, which appeared to follow a path west of the city, wa> unusually brilliant, and provided an almost continuous play of vivid lightning for three hours. It wr.3 accompanied by high winds on the harbour, and the scene from the extremities of the city wharves was at times awe-inspiring. Swept completely by floods until, after two hours of torrential rain, from three feet to five feet of water lay within the buildings of the township, Puhoi was bne of the districts north of Auckland which suffered severely in tonight’s storm. Early in the evening the level of the water rose with amazing rapidity, and shortly after 7 o’clock not only was the settlement inundated. but all means of access were blocked by swollen streams. Several delegates who were to attend a National Party meeting at Albany were unable to get through on account of blockages on the road from the north. Timber and rubble were strewn across the road, and there was evidence of slips in several places. Kaitaia reports torrential rain, with much flooding on the roads. Houses Surrounded The occupants of several of the new State houses on the Casey Estate, in Richmond road, had many_ anxious moments at the height of the storm. In the lowest lying street of the estate, four or five houses were completely surrounded by a surging mass of water more than two feet deep. Water was lapping against the top step of one house, built up nearly three feet, and the occupants were preparing to lift the carpets, linoleums, and furniture when the flood showed signs of subsiding. Gathering impetus as it raced- down the steep slopes of Grafton gully, a raging stream of water tore into the playing area of the Auckland- Bowling Club, and caused damage estimated at £IOO. As it swept past the residence of the caretaker the water earned away a four-foot fence, depositing it across one of the croquet lawms. A sheet of water up to five feet deep covered the lower bowling greens, and the staff workshop was completely flooded out. “In all my eJ -" perience of seven years here, I have never known a flood to rise so rapidly on the greens," said the caretaker. “The water roared past my house in a torrent, carrying silt and shrubs. I am afraid there will be a considerable depth of debris to be cleared off the greens, which have been in the course of preparation for weeks past.” While speaking, the caretaker pointed to wooden seats floating across the bowling greens. „ Silt inches deep was washed off the new domain drive, across Stanley street, and toward the Stanley street tennis courts. . Scenes similar to those in Queen street were also presented in parts of Dominion road, where tram lines inundated, and water rose to within a foot or -so of the shop fronts. Near Valley road water entered a few very lowly-situated shops, in which slight damage was caused, in spite of the efforts of the shopkeepers to stem the water with brooms and mops. One oi the worst instances of flooding occu*T£d at the intex*section of Suirey and Crummer roads, where two streams of water converged. Within an astonishingly short time, the water banked up to a height of about four feet, sweeping through the lower portions of an apartment house, from which the water was draining an hour after the deluge had ceased. Trains Delayed Carrying six passengers, a mixed train which left Auckland for Whangarei at 4.5 p.m., encountered a slip at Makerau about 7 p.m., and returned to Kaukapakapa. It was intended to bring the tram back to Helensville so that the passengers could obtain accommodation; but tms had not been accomplished at a late hour because of further slips just

south of Kaukapakapa. Gangs were working on the slips, and it was not expected that the line at these places would take long to clear. Three feet of water over . the line stopped the 3.20 p.m. train from Whangarei to Auckland at about 7 pm and it was necessary to return to Wellsford, where the f° u r Passengers were accommodated for the night.