WINTRY WEATHER

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6319, 23 February 1922, Page 5

WINTRY WEATHER

COLD RAIN GENERAL THROUGHOUT DISTRICT.

UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR ARAHURA’S PASSENGERS.

SUBSIDENCE IN TINIROTO ROAD.

The unseasonable weather which was so unusual last month does not appear to show any sign of improvement, and the rainfall this month has already exceeded that recorded during the month of February for some years past. The rainfall during the past two days has been particularly heavy for this time of the year, 79 points being registered for the 24 'hours up to yesterday, and another 57 points between 9 a.m. and T p.m. During the afternoon the rain continued almost incessantly, making the day’s rainfall in the vicinity of inches. The rainfall for the month is new over 3 inches, and for the last two months nearly II inches, compared with 3 inches for January and February of last year. The rainfall appears to have been Tairly general throughout the district, and certainly far in excess of the requirements of the farmers, who are now anxiously awaiting a fino spell. The roads have, as usual, suffered greatly from the severe soaking, but otherwise little damage of a serious nature is reported. The rivers are somewhat discolored, and are carrying a considerable amount of debi;,i* down, while the Waipaoa is repeated to have risen a foot or eighteen inches yesterday.

Reports from Tokomaru Bay indicate that heavy rain fell all day yesterday, while the weather generally was cold and miserable. A heavy sea was running, and Captain Plumer. the harbormaster stated that it would not be possible to work the Aralrura. During the day an inch and a-half of rain was recorded, and the creeks north of Tokomaru Bay were slightly swollen, although not sufficiently to interfere with traffic. Passengers intending to go soutli by the Arahura yesterday had an unpleasant experience. The tender was originally- advertised to leave at 4 o’clock, but when no word was received frem the Coast it was decided to postpone her departure until 6.30 -—the latest hour at which the tide would permit of the tender going out. When no advice came to hand, the manager wirelessed to the vessel to ascertain her position, and it was not until 6.10 that he received a reply stating that the vessel would not reach Gisborne until late last night or early in the morning. The passengers waiting on the wharf were notified of the position, and were then able to return to their

homes. Unfortunate as the incident was, no hi ame is attachable to the Union Company, as the vessel was not sighted along the Coast, and consequently it was impossible to obtain any information as to the time of her arrival. The tender was delayed as late as possible, but it was not known until after 6 o’clock that the Arahura would not arrive in time Vo be tendered. The tender is now to t Wave at 6 o’clock this morning, and the Arahura will proceed to Napier, and leave again to-night for Gisborne, picking np her usual running to-morrow morning.

Advice was received last evening that there had been a serious subsidence cn the main Tiniroto road, near liuakituri. It is stated that the damage has occurred at the place where ■ there was a large slip three or four years ago. For the past week the road has been steadily subsiding, and yesterday, it was stated, was impassable. A nurpbor of men had been employed on the road in an endeavor to prevent further damage, but without success. It is thought probable that it will he necessary to bridge the portico of the read which has been damaged.

ELEVEN HOURS FROM MORERE

EXCITING EXPERIENCES OF MOTORISTS.

The damage which can he caused to the road between Gisborne _ and Morere after even comparatively little rain was impressed upon a party of travellers bv :> service car on Tuesday. The car left AVairoa at the usual time in the morning, and made- a good trip as far as Null aka. At 10.30 the party left Morere, and proceeded to the end of the metal, where the chains were adjusted in anticipation of the muddy road in front of them. The car forged siowly hut surely through the thick heavy -nnid until nearly to Tarewa, when “die car sank into the mud and the wheels failed to grip. The passengers alighted, and with the help of a roadman, the car again moved off after some delay. Near Swarbrick ■- homestead, however, a similar experience was met with, the car on this occasion sinking into a deep rut. Again the passengers had to alight and by jacking up the back axle, the car was once more freed. The most disastrous delay occurred, however, some distance further on when the car became stuck in the mud while attempting to cross a new culvert. Effort after effort to extricate the car proved fruitless, and nearly four hours elapsed before the car was again on the roact. journey over the hill was continued without further difficulty, althougn the greasy nature of the road made travelling very slow and tedious. Gisborne was not reached until nearly 9.30 p.m. the journey from Morere having occupied eleven hours.

GOVERNMENT FORECAST. HEAVY RAIN ON EAST COAST. The Dominion Meteorologist's forecast is as follows: — Present indications are for easterly winds strong to gale northwards of Kawhia and East Cape and freshening southeast to jiorth-ea.se winds elsewhere. Weather unsettled, cloudy and misty, with rain following generally, and heavy rain in the northern and East Coast districts of the Worth Island. The barometer is dialling everywhere. ____