Train Derailed, Lambs Lost In N.I. Flooding

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30988, 18 February 1966, Page 3

Train Derailed, Lambs Lost In N.I. Flooding

A goods train was derailed, hundreds of lambs were drowned and many roads were blocked by flooding after heavy rain in the North Island, the Press Association reports.

The 15-waggon goods train, travelling between Whangarei and Auckland, was derailed at Tauraroa early yesterday morning when flood waters swept the lines. The engine and the guards van were left on the rails and the three men on board the train were unhurt.

Farmers in the isolated Punakitere and Otaua districts west of Kaikohe, where the Punakitere and Otaua rivers have risen up to 20 feet in places, had a dismal day yesterday taking stock of their losses.

Mr T. I. White, whose property is almost completely covered by floodwaters, estimates his losses at 700 lambs. A farmer at Oataua, Mr R. S. Bott,, has lost 400 lambs and has another 100 marrooned. Other farmers in the area are walking or riding round in floodwaters endeavouring to estimate losses.

A dairy farmer, Mr G. R. Hamilton, lost 10 valuable pigs, but rescued many more. Others are finding shelter on small areas of dry land on the farm.

A swing bridge built by Mr R. Newson on his farm at Punakitere, high enough to miss the worst anticipated floods —about 20 feet above normal water level—was carried away. The flash flood struck just before dawn after more than 10 inches of rain had fallen during the night. Rain was still falling yesterday. The highway between Kaikohe and Rawene was still impassable last night and the West Coast route through Opononi was under water at Whirinaki.

Only light rain was falling in Northland last night after Wednesday night’s downpour which closed the highway north of Whangarei.

Flooding at •Hukerenui halted traffic north of the city. Many country roads were blocked but in most areas the water was “getting away” fast.

The highest rainfall recorded in Northland was 16 inches in 24 hours at Kokopu, about 10 miles west of Whangarei. At Maungakaramea 10.5 inches was recorded —the highest one-day fall in the district since 4.18 inches in 1936.

The early morning bus from Whangarei north had to turn back when it reached Whakapara. There was about three feet of water in a strong current across the road for 200 to 300 yards. Further along

the depth increased to seven feet. A service truck was stranded in the middle. The bus due to come north from Maungaturoto yesterday morning was stranded there. Heavy rain which fell in Auckland on Wednesday night continued yesterday morning and caused extensive flooding in the city and its suburbs.

At Whenuapai, 10.23 inches of rain was recorded for the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday. The previous record in the area was 3.75 inches. Between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Wednesday five inches fell at Whenuapai. Gauge Overflowed The Weather Office at Whenuapai was not equipped to handle the deluge as its gauge stops measuring at nine inches.

To measure rainfall up to this morning staff dug up the protecting cannister for the gauge, tested it for leakage,

Without Power

found there was none, and poured the 1.23 inches overflow into the measuring cylinder.

Lightning cut power in Henderson, Swanson, Waikumete and Helensville.

Two thousand houses in Remuera were without power late on Wednesday night until 2.30 yesterday morning, when part of a tree fell across high tension feeders.

A service train which left Auckland yesterday morning for the derailment area near Whangarei was marooned byflooding at Wayby, between Wellsford and Kaipara flats.