FLOOD WATERS RISE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 12

FLOOD WATERS RISE

Heavy Rain Falls In Wairarapa

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Masterton, June 16.

Heavy and continuous rain has fallen since the early hours of the morning, causing some apprehension of floods. At S o’clock to-night the water was just beginning to flow over the main highway near the Waiohine bridge on the Masterton-Wellington road, while two rather large slips were reported on the Featherston side of the Rimutaka road, which is passable for one-way traffic. There is also a wash-out to the edge of the bitumen for a distance of about 12 feet in the same vicinity. The Whareama River at Tinui is reported to be running very high and other streams on the East Coast are in heavy flood. RIMUTAKA HILL WASHOUT The Automobile Association (Wellington) was advised last night by the Main Highways Board that there was a large washout on the Wairarapa side of the Rimutaka Hill, The washout extends over about a quarter of a mile on a bad bend, and although it was possible to get through the association warns motorists that the road is extremely dangerous. TAMAHINE TWO HOURS LATE

Rain Delays Coastal Vessels

Loading

Delayed by heavy weather and poor visibility, the Picton ferry steamer Tamahiue did not arrive at Wellington until after 8 o’clock last night, about, two hours later than usual. The captain stated that he had encountered very thick weather on the crossing. The Tamahine’s normal schedule is to leave Picton at 2.45 p.m., berthing a t Wellington at about 6 p.m. Yesterday she left Picton at about 3 p.m., and did not tie up at the Queen’s Wharf until 8.10, having taken nearly five hours and a. quarter, instead of three and a quarter.

The heavy rain hampered the loading of a number of small coasters at Wellington, but as there were no overseas ships in port yesterday except the Government motor-vessel Maui Pomare which left in the afternoon for Apia, the effect on shipping was not as great as might have been expected. There were unusually few vessels ‘n port yesterday. As the storm did not attain its full force until late in the day, the Tamahine’s was the only arrival seriously affected by the weather. Only four ships put to sea yesterday: the Nelson and Lyttelton ferry steamers, the Mani Pomare, and the trawler Futurist. The coastal freighters, Hokitika, Kohl, Storm, Rata and Hawera, were all scheduled to sail yesterday, but owing to the rain none of them finished work.