FLOODS AND THE GALE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 5

FLOODS AND THE GALE.

HAWKE'S BAY RIVERS UP. OUTLOOK SAID TO BE SERIOUS. , : ,(By • Tdesrapli.-Special Correspondent.) i>: ' Hastinos, May 13. 'There is every indication of a disastrous'flood in this district. Earn comuienced to fall in very heavy showers on Monday, and last night a howling southerly sprang up, bringing with it heavy arftl continuous rain. This afternoon it eaWd'off for a few hours, but the respite was Ohly a brief one, and-at-present (7.4 a p.ta.) tna Tain. is pouring in torrents. The '■■ wind : is howling; and there is no suggestion of a break. In. the town the water channels were quickly blocked this morning; and: the low-lying portions of tM borough w» inundated. •So far no serious damage is reported, but'it .is quite.likely that, if tho rain continues through the night, some of the rtfiiderits will find their furniture floatirig about before morning. This, however, only applies to the lower levels. It is in;the country districts that the deluge is!-causing grave concern. Tho Ngaruroro a&l tho Tnkituki Rivera rose rapidly this morning, but not to such an extent as to create , undue-alarm. In-the afternoon the position was more serious, but the tem-porary-casing; of the storm gave rise to the hope, that the waters might be-'oon-fiiied-to their proper- channels. Unfortnnately this hope,-is not .being fulfilled. No damage is reported as yet, but the neVs ; of to-morrow, morning is likely to be , unfavourable. ~. !The-train from Napier arrived an hour later, this ljeing due to-the fact that, that town is pantially under water. The train ha'd some difficulty in getting away, as, the water.in-the vicinity of the station Wa.s nearly up to the carriage platforms. The express from the south .arrived at Hastings on time, and proceeded on to Napier as usual. ' ■ ; - V NAPIER-A .SEA-OF'- WATEEj I - « . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) . '-.■■■■' .;.. ..,.-.,! Napier,.-&ay,.18..-Exceptionally -heavy-rain has- been falling' alitfost contintittliy-'for- twenty-four hours, , and fear: of-flood is entertained; Low-lying-part? of the district .are already under .-.water, and -the rivers arerenWted.to bo risine fast;: Some of. thetown .streets i are a , sea of water. - . o;The Central. Eiver ■ Board, constituted under the Act passed last session, was ejected yesterday, and it looks .as. if it tfill soon have an object-lesson of tho need for united action. ■■■'■■.• SERIOUS FLOOD FEARED.' (By Trieeraph.—Special Correspondents Napier, May 18. Napier and district "are threatened with the biggest flood since 1897. It has been raining for two days, The main streets' are practically;'all under water, and the rivers are.rising fast. : COUNTEYSIDE DEENOHED. IBy Telezraph.—Pres3 Association.) ! ■-'■'■ . Wairoa, May 18. A - heavy south-westerly gale blew yestoday'and last night, with much rain, livers are in heavy flood. Over sis mches of rain fell in twenty-four hour?. No heavy damage is yet reported, but eeveral small slips and washouts have occurred On the'roads. Tho coach to Uorere was ,unable to get through. ' , GALE AT WANGANUI. ,' (By Teleuraph—Press Association.) ■_- , Wanganui, May 18. The weather continues wot and bitterly Mid, A strong , gale is blowing. The telegraph office- advises that communication between Napier and Gisbome was _ totally interrupted yesterday mom' appearing in bur shipping column indcate that the weather has k?n .very heavy in. Cook' Strait; and fe 1 3^ arr ? n P e - ments haT « somewhat frsiocated in consequence.