HEAVY RAINFALL

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 226, 21 June 1934, Page 10

HEAVY RAINFALL

Hawke’s Bay Rivers Rise Suddenly

FARMERS’ PRECAUTIONS

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Hastings, June 20.

Heavy rain throughout the district, to-day caused rivers to rise and warnings to be issued to move to safer localities stock in flood-threatened areas. A sudden rise in the Ngaroro and Tutaekuri Rivers look place about an hour after darkness this evening, ami precautions were taken by settlers in low-lying areas near Napier and Hastings.

In both rivers the rise amounted to between six and eight feet, which took place in about two hours.

However, the danger point had not been reached, and later in the night the steady d ownpop r which had ruled throughout the day had slackened off to occasional showers.

Road communications between Napier and Wairoa and Napier and Taupo are not so far affected.

POSITION IN NORTH Railway Communication Still Blocked By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, June 20. The railway route to North Auckland was still blocked by flood water in the Wayby-Hoteo. area to-night, but the clearing of the Waitakere tunnel slip this afternoon permitted a full railway service between Auckland and Helensville to be restored. It is hoped that the full service to Whangarei and the far north will be restored some time to-day. Passengers who left Auckland for Whangarei by the express on Tuesday morning, and were held up at Helensville, will reach Whangarei to-morrow morning, after a journey occupying nearly 50 hours. The normal time for the joruney is five hours and a half. They were taken by steamer from Helensville to Dargaville to-night From Dargaville they will be taken by cars to Kirikopuni, where they will arrive this morning, and'will go by train from Kirikopuni to Whangarei. The railway track in this section is clear.

These passengers, who number about 50, were offered the choice by the railway officials of being transhipped by boat in this way or of .returning to Auckland. Others who elected to return arrived back by train this afternoon, after the Waitakere tunnel had been cleared. For the convenience of travellers wishing to leave Auckland to-day for Whangarei. a train was dispatched from Auckland hi the afternoon for Helensville. Passengers on the train joined the others already in Helensville, and with them continued the journey by boat and train. No attempt was made to got railway passengers through from Whangarei to Auckland to-day. Intending passengers were warned of the difficulties of transit, and there were no bookings for places south of Maungaturoto. The Whangarel-Auckland express therefore did not travel beyond that, point, and resolved itself more or less into a local train, handling traffic between Maungatiiroto and Whangarei.. As far as was known, only slight damage had occurred to the line. It was considered that repairs could be effected in h few hours once the water had fallen below the level of the track, and a constant watch was being kept Sw that work could be commenced at the earliest opportunity. Gangs of men were being kept at Wayby ail night so as to be called out at a moment's notice. RAIN AT TE KUITI Many Slips on Highways By Telegraph.—Press Association. Te Kuiti, June 20. The heaviest, rainfall for years was recorded around Te Kuiti when 3.63 inches were recorded for the 24 hours up to 9 o’clock this morning. The main road half a mile north of Te Kuiti is under three feet of water, and railway houses are surrounded. An extensive slip has come down in the Awnkino Valley on the main road, and service cars can get through with difficulty. Slips arc still falling. The road near Piopio is under water, and there is a heavy slip. Four miles past Waitomo the road is blocked. The rain has now stopped, but the river is still rising.