STORM DAMAGE

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1936, Page 5

STORM DAMAGE

AUCKLAND’S SHARE FLOOD HAVOC Further Fatalities ’ PUKEKOHE MAN DROWNED. ANOTHER MISSING. (Per Press Association). PUKEKOHE, February 4. The body of a man named Smith, has been found in the Mangatangi stream'. When Smith, a bullock driver, and his workmate, F. A. Mikoz, of Auckland, who were employed by a sawmiller in the Mangatangi district, did not report for work yesterday morning, fears were entertained for their safety, as the clothing belonging to both 'was found. Their hut is situated on the bank of the stream. At the week-end the storm water rose 20 feet, and entered the hut, A search is proceeding for Mikoz. Northland Blockade WATER UP TO TREE TOPS. HEAVY FLOOD DAMAGE. WHANGAREI, February 4.

No train from Auckland had yesterday, reached Whangarei since Saturday. The flooding in many parts is the Worst in memory. Railways are badly damaged, and the services are at a away at several places, and large in some places, affecting many chains of line, have occurred. Sixty passengers from the express were marooned between Otiria and Kaikohe, on Saturday night, which was spent in the carriages. Next night, they were billeted by private people. A bridge carried away at Whakapara, fifteen miles north of Whangarei, and this will, it is believed, stop rail traffic north-wards for several days. Traffic to Auckland was uninterrupted, though one train was held up temporarily, near Tahekeroa.

Campers on the East Coast had terrifying experiences, tents being blown away, while slips prevented their return to their homes. A launch had to be employed to bring back teachers and others, who were holidaying down Whangarei Harbour, where the wind was so fierce at one spot that seaside cottages were carried away. Serious damage has been done to roads and highways, on which, in many places, extensive slips have taken place, while numerous bridges have been destroyed. Heavy expenditure is anticipated in restoring the storm damage. At Waitangi, the water rose between seven and eight feet in twenty minutes. Eight men who were sleeping on the floor of the Tung Oil Company’s cook-house, hurriedly took refuge on the roof, but, when the structure began to move, they clambered into a tree overhanging the cookhouse, which was later carried away by the flood.

NORTH AUCKLAND STORM.

TRAIN PASSENGERS THREE

DAYS MAROONED.

WHANGAREI. February 4.

Road transport in Northland is still beset with difficulty, and in many areas it is impossible. Gangs are at work removing the slips, but it will be at least a week before some of the worst are disposed of. A dismal scene is to bo witnessed _m the - Hikurangi swamp drainage district, where there is some fifteen thousand acres converted into a lake, with the tops of the trees peeping out of yellow water. Passengers who left Auckland by train for Whangarei .on Saturday arrived only to-day. They had spent three days in the train, which was marooned at Tahekeroa, their only food being biscuits, bread and tea provided by the train crew and the wives of the railway employees at the station. Late yesterday afternoon, they were taken by lorry to Helensville, ■where they caught a steamer for Dargaville, and then they motored to Whangarei. So great is the damage done in the Whangarei County that an urgent appeal to the Minister of Public Works has been made by the Council and the Member for the District. Telephonic communication is being gradually restored throughout . the north, and many stories of hair-raising experiences during the floods are being related. Telegraphs Retored PHONE SERVICE STILL IN COMPLETE. WELLINGTON, February 4. An official of the P. and T. Department. told a reporter to-day that the position, so far as telegraphic communication is concerned, is almost back to normal. The repairs, however, were temporary. A good deal of improvising had been done. Theposition in regard to telephonic communication, he said, was not so favourable, mainly because of _ the seriousness of the damage in the vicinity of Palmerston North. The line gangs were still very busy, and by this evening the position regarding toll cdTls should have improved. MAIN TRUNK DELAY. WELLINGTON, February 4. Wash-outs at Tangi 8 bridge are stttt delaying the Main Trunk traffic. The Auckland Limited to Wellington is running four hours late. PAHIATUA DAMAGE. WELLINGTON, February 4. "Pahiatua received a share of Sunday’s cyclone. It began early in the morning and reached a climax at two in the afternoon, rain adding to the general disorder. The entire roof of the main grandstand on the racecourse was lifted bodily and hurled in sections for fifty yards,_ presenting an incongruous scene, as it hung in boughs of a belt of trees. Many sheds were demolished and houses partially deroofed. A Konini resident had a narrow escape being blown off a roof, twenty feet to the ground, rn endeavouring to batten, down the iron.