SOUTHERLY GALE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 December 1924, Page 9

SOUTHERLY GALE.

MAORI’S ROUGH TRIP. (BY TET.BOTIAPH —-PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 19. The ferry steamer Maori, with 530 passengers , encountered a rough trip. She arrived at Lyttelton an hour late. There were heavy seas in Cook Strait. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN. The Government Meteorologist telegraphed to-day: —The indications are for southerly winds, strong to gale. Stormy weather may be expected. Further heavy rain to be expected, with rivers flooded. Barometer rising scop. Sea and tides vry heavy. REPORTS FROM WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Dec. 19. Wellington city and country districts were visited by a strong gale and heavy rainfall last night. Slips are reported on the railway lines at several places, including one “near Paekakariki, about 30 miles from Wellington. .The engine of a. goods train.was derailed by a slip, and traffic was temporarily disorganised. Passengers by incoming trains are being transferred at the scene of the slip, and will reach Wellington before noon. The steamer Ngaio, for Nelson, was unable to negotiate the heads, and turned to the wharf. She will make another effort this evening. The streets of the city and suburbs were flooded in places. At Muratai and Rona, Bay the water banked up and flooded through many houses. Several electric power poles were undermined and brought down. At Karori two pine trees fell across the tram .line, disorganising the traffic. They also broke the electric light wires. ,

At the Hutt the river is in high flood, and some damage lias been done. DAMAGE AT MASTER TON. MASTERTON, Dec. 19. During the past 24 hours seven inches of rain fell in Masterton, and nearly nine inches in the two, days. Considerable damage was done to many houses by the flood water. Reports from the outlying portions of the district show that the roads are blocked by slips. Considerable loss of sheep is feared in the back blocks. The bursting of the Lansdowne dam renders that suburb short of water, and an epidemic of sickness is feared through the destruction of the dam if a, spell c,f hot weather comes.

HEAVY FLOODS NEAR CARTERTON.

CARTERTON, Dec. 19

Cloudbursts occurred in various parts of the distinct last night, preceded by the most violent thunderstorm experienced for years. At about 2.30 a.m. the water from two . northern creek* converged and ran through the town, flooding various dwelling® and one. or two shops. Farmers in the low-lying districts of Dalefield, Belvedere and Matarawa were inundated, and the road to them is impas6able. At Kourarau the electric 'power house was cut off at 9 p.m., and later the weight of water behind the unfinished dam caused the whole to wash away, and the power bouse was again badly flooded. It is possible there will be no power for three or four days. , On the railway line between Carterton and Woodside there were three wash-outs, and there are no trains today, but it is expected that after five or six hours the time-table will be resumed.

Road traffic is very considerablv hampered, and on the Rimutaka Hill a great wash-out 100 feet wide occurred near the motor bridge, and traffic is entirely suspended. The Ruamahunga at Papawai overflowed. and the country is badly flooded. Losses of stock are reported. At Kahutara tl}e water is iust up to the river hanks and is breaking over. Settlers have all been warned by telephone, and though a record flood is expected, it is not anticipated that stock losses have occurred, though damage to fences is bound to take place. The rain has ceased for the time being, hut the weather is still threatening.