STORMS IN THE NORTH

Evening Star, Issue 18256, 21 April 1923, Page 4

STORMS IN THE NORTH

HEAVY RAINFALLS. HUGH DAMAGE DONE. FIVE INCHES IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. [Peb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, April 20 % An easterly gale, which extends 1,200 miles to tho west, 1,000 miles to the north, and 500 miles to tho east, is reported by the steamer Fiona, which took eight days (instead of five) from Port Kerabia. The Waimana was two days lato in arriving from Newcastle. All shipping in delayed hero, ns no work has been done on the wharves to-day. A feature in the city was the heavy downpour, which found weak spots in many roofs. HAMILTON, April 21. There was a storm of exceptional severity last night, with vivid lightning and very loud thunder. The rainfall for twenty-four hours was s.l2in—a record for many years. Much damage was done. STREETS FLOODED. THAMES, April 21. There was an extraordinary rainfall here last night, and a vivid thunderstorm from I o’clock lasted till 3 o’clock this morning. The Waiotahi Creek broke its banks above the new impounding area, and Hooded the Grahamstown end. Two streets are covered with 2ft of water, and thousands of tons of debris have been washed down, .lying to the extent of 6ft to 10ft deep over a wide area. Some B.2in of rain has fallen since 10 a.m. yesterday. The railway is unable to run owing to washouts. A MAN MISSING. THAMES, April 21. William Miller, a well-known earlier, lias been missing since last night. It is supposed that he attempted to cross the bridge over the Hooded creek, and missed his footing. .Search lias been made, but the bodv lias not been found.