EXTRA EDITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION.

GALE AND RAIN. m — FLOODS IN THE NORTH. DAMAGE IN WAIROA DISTRICT. [»V TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WAIROA, This Day. A storm, with terrific rain, has been t aging since yesterday. All the rivers are in heavy flood. The wharves aresubmerged, and the riveiside bheds and ntoren are being cleared. The Harbour Board offices arc flooded, aud all lowly rug lands are under water. Several settlers on the town flat are cut off from the town. In the country there are several bridges 20ft under water, and settlers are cut off. There are land elides and slips in all directions. Telegraphic communication with the North is interrupted. All coaches are blocked. No bridge damage has yet been reported, but stock losses are likely to be heavy. DREDGE SINKS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. The gale is abating a little. It raged with great force during the mcht. Scores of chimneys were, blown down and buildings unroofed.' The Harboar Board's dredge Thomas King broke from her moorings, and sank close to the wharf. A telegraphic message was this morning received by the Marine Department from the secretary of the Now Plymouth Harbour Board, to the, effect that the dredge Thomas King broke from her moorings during last night's heavy gale, and sank six chains from the end of tho wharf. There is now only one berth available on the eastern *ide, although the western side of the wharf is clear. The dredge will be removed as early as possible, added the message. A SERIOUS POSITION. NAPIER, This Day. There is still little immediate prospect of the weather clearing, and the position of settlers in the Meanee and Papakura districts is becoming serious. Already some sixty sheep have been drowned, and settlers are hurrying stock to the high lands. The water in the Tutaekuru River has now reached the top of tho stopbank, and the safety of Meanee depends on the bank withstanding the enormous pressure. If a breach occurs a big area will be inundated. At Clivo there is 3ft of water in the main street. The railway line re submerged in places, but traffic has not been interrupted. A terrific .«ea running in the bay is hampering shipping movements. NEW BRIDGE WASHED AWAY. WHARF FLOATS OUT TO SEA. [BX TEZ.E6KAPB — PBCS9 ASSOCIATION.] WAIROA, Thin Day. A roport to hand states that the Nuhaka Bridge, built by the Government three or four years ,-igo at a cost of £3000 or £4000, has been washed away, isolating the Nnhaka settlers. The Wairoa Wharf just floated past the town on its \<my to the sea. At the Scainperdown Bridge the approach from the Frasertown-road has been washed away, and the bridge ie sagging in the centre and not likely to stand the night, if, as expected, the river rises again by midnight. Wellington's share of the storm was not (so tevere as the Northern districts' portion, though the wind freshened up towards evening yesterday, and was vigorous enough to-ch»y. The rainfall for the twenty-four hours preceding nine o'clock to-day was only 16 points (less than a sixth of an inch). This morning the centre of the cyclonic disturbance was in the vicinity of Ea*t Cape, working seawards, and it was still necessary to issue warnings fui the Ea s l Coast as far south as Otunarti. The outlook for to-monow !•* uncertain.