WINTRY WEATHER

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6321, 25 February 1922, Page 5

WINTRY WEATHER

ik)W DISTRICT HOADS'ARE 1 FARING. GISBORNE I’R A CTIC ALLY ISOLATED. Within the recollection of but few local residents has there been such a. large amount of rain in the month of February as has been recorded on the occasion of the present year. For the whole of February last year the rainfall was only 2.0 S inches, whereas -1.73 inches have been registered for the present month. For the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday, the gauge measured 1.2 inches. Some indication of the abnormality of the current season is given by the fact that, up to the present, as much rain has fallen in this district, as was recorded up to June of 10 21. The rasult has been a general holding up of local body road work, of which, probably the most important is the Wliarerata. Hill. At present road communications with Gisborne are impossible for motor traffic beyond about a twenty mile limit, the Wliarerata and Otoko hills being the stumbling blocks in two directions, ay cl the Coast road in the other. “Impassable/' was what a Waihuka resident termed the Otoko hill road when conversing last night with, a Times reporter. It had been raining there since Monday, though yesterday the weather cleared up a little, and the road was quite out of the question for all motor traffic. Although considerably swollen the Waipaoa river has not yet reached a dangerous height, having still to rise a further eight feet before it would overflow its banks and the surrounding flats. jf It is, however, a foot or more higher than during last month's fresh, and at seven o’clock last night it was raining very heavily in the Ivaiterataiii district.

The Waipaoa is, of course, about the same at Te Karaka, very high, hut not. dangerously so. The rainfall at Te Karaka has not been, io all accounts, as heavy as in the Gisborne district, though at Wliatatutu a heavy fall has been recorded. The old level bridge at Pakarae has been well submerged during the reent flesh, but the fact of the new bridge having been just completed obviates any interruption of traffic on this score.

It seems that the upper portion of the Coast was fairly free from rain up to Tuesday last. The position of the Main Coast Road is giving much anxiety as much of the summer has been spoiled by rain and progress in improvements has been hindered. A prominent Coast resident, in conversation with a Times reporter last night, said it was futile now to hope that the road could be made passable for motor traffic .for this winter. What - Re suggested was that the Cook County should concentrate on metalling work on its section to the Pakarae bridge. Already good work had been done in the vicinity of Whnngnrn. In the case of the Pawn County Council. it should, he thought, concentrate on im’nroving the bad stretch along the Mangntuna Flats. _ It had done crood work this season in the circumstances. There were two short gaps which required attention very badly. If this policy were carried out it woi?V\ he possible to maintain traffic on-Jpic Coast at fair speed by instituting coach services between Pakarae Bridge ami Tologa Bay. For this season of the year, our informant said that the road between Tokcmaru Bay and Te Araron mas in good order when Tie passed over earlier in the week.