THIRD FLOOD OF WINTER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 5

THIRD FLOOD OF WINTER

HAWKE’S BAY AGAIN INUNDATED LARGE AREAS UNDER WATER COMMUNICATIONS BLOCKED IN SOME DISTRICTS U'BKSS ASSOCIATION TELEOUAM.) HASTINGS, July 27. The Hurd Hood in Hawke’s Bay this winter covered large ureas to-day. Although not as serious as the disastrous floods of February and April it was sufficient again to disrupt communications in several districts. The in the northern portion of the province especially were affected. The Pakowhai road, near Hastings, is still blocked to-night, and the only entrance to Napier from the south is by way of Fcrnhill. The Ngaruroro river this evening was up six foot and the Tulaekuri river 5 feet 9 inches. In spite of the heavy rain on the saturated countryside there is surprisingly little damage, although lowlying arcus were flooded early and portions of Hastings, including the main streets, were flooded this morning. The rainfall at Hastings for the 24 hours to 5 p.m. to-day totalled 1.63 inches. The high seas running at Napier today were described by the harbourmaster, Captain A. McLachlan, as the heaviest he had seen lor 14 years. Late this evening the Taradale Post Office, near Napier, reported that the majority of the roads in the area were under water. With the cessation of rain, however, it, is expected that the position would improve rapidly. Hastings suffered more than Napier. This morning, after heavy rain throughout the night, the west end cl Kcrctaimga street was covered by a sheet of water, and at the intersection of Hcretaunga and Nelson streets there was a miniature river. At Ocean Beach, a resident, J. MeCool, was thrown from his horse when crossing the flooded Waipuka creek. The horse foil on him, pinning him down. When able to release himself McCool clung to a partly-submerged tree until he was rescued by his family. RIVER BOARD WORKS TO CLOSE DOWN SATURATED GROUND STOPS PROGRESS (CRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) HASTINGS. July 27. The Hawke’s Bay Rivers’ Board works will probably be closed fqr the next month, if not longer, as a result of the heavy rain in Hawke’s Bay last week and during to-day, said the chairman (Mr C. Lassen) to-night after discussing the matter with the board’s engineer (Mr G. Rochfort). “We agreed that in view of the saturated condition of the ground it would be advisable to close the works temporarily/ said Mr Lassen. Subject to the approval of the board this would be done, and it would mean that about 100 men would automatically be put off until the resumption of normal working. The question will be dealt with at the monthly meeting of the board on Monday. In the meantime a few of the men other than the 100 affected would be kept on doing day work, such as woodcutting. said Mr Lassen. The situation as far as the board’s work was concerned had been becoming worse after every rain. “The paddocks are under a sea of water,” he said, “and the camps are so saturated that the men have had to leave them. The engineer will meet Labour Department officials to-day to discuss the question of providing for the men out of work.” AUCKLAND CLUB’S LOSS BOWLING pREENS BADLY SILTED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. July 2*l. The flood damage done to the Auckland Bowling Club’s greens revealed by daylight will probably cost about £3OO to repair, besides delaying the start of play next season. The low level green in the north-east corner of the property, which was flooded to a depth of more than 4 feet, received great quantities of silt washed down from the new Domain road, which is being constructed by the City Council Several yards of a low concrete retaining wall on the south side broke in many places and collapsed outward. Two greens on the west side were also coated with silt. Workmen were busy on the ground floor of Milne and Choyce’s shop this morning removing the cork linoleum which had been soaked with water the night before. The greater part of the floor was treated in this way and many counters and other fixtures had to be moved in the process. The accumulation of water in the basement was pumped out and it was found that fortunately the elevator motors and main switchboard had not been affected. An estimate of the damage to the stock stored in the basement will not be possible for some days. FAMILY LIVING IN TENTS DRIVEN OUT BY STORM AT AUCKLAND (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, July 27. Forced through lack of lususing accommodation ,o live in two makeshift tents which were pitched in a gorsefilled gully along the waterfront road, a father, mother, and eight children were last night driven from their home when storm-water flowed down the walls of the gully and lapped under the bedding. The family made a hurried departure, and were given shelter for the night in a meeting-house at the Orakei Maori settlement. “We have been here in the gorge since Christmas because we cannot rent a house,” declared the mother, “We

can pay 30s a week, and since we came here we have advertised regularly without success. It is enough to make anyone despair. Even a member of Parliament, who tried, could not get us a house.” There is one ray of hope. A workmate'of the father to-day reported that lie might be able to place a house at their disposal in a week’s time. “We can’t lot it got us down,” said the wife, “Wc have to keep cheerful for the children’s sake.” i