STRATFORD DAMAGE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 February 1935, Page 7

STRATFORD DAMAGE

ROADS WASHED AWAY ,-r i RAILWAY LINES SUSPENDED. i TRAFFIC PARALYSED. By Telegraph—Special to “Star.” STRATFORD, To-day. Road and rail transport in Taranaki to-day was completely paralysed by heavy flood water which failed to escape through natural channels following a deluge of tropical intensity. Rain fell continuously for many, hours until shortly after eight o’clock this morning, and damaged bridges and flooded roads completely disorganised the main highway motor .services and private traffic and flooded' the railway track and held up all trains, including the New Plymouth-Wellington express. A train comprising a full complement of carriages was made up at Stratford at 9.30 and despatched t-o AVaipuku. The mail train had been unable to leave New Plymouth so that Stratford was made the terminus. An emergency express left two nours late. The line between New Plymouth and Stratford was washed out in many places, leaving the ra.*Ss suspended, the ballast having been washed away.

On tho Stratford Main Trunk lino to TaumaTunui there are innumerable slips, which are expected to take two or three days to clear. The AucklandNew Plymouth night express was forced to take the old route via Marton. The main highway between Stratford and Inglewood was washed away at Waipuku, where flood waters scoured out tho road under the tar seal, leaving only a thin crust on top. It is likely to fall through at any time. Many cars were stranded on the road between the damaged sections and were held up all night. The damage in the country districts is severe. Many settlers are isolated by slips and wash-outs, but telephone communication is uninterrupted. Mails have been greatly disorganised, and it is expected that the Stratford station will he made the terminus of all railway services to and from Taranaki today.

CONDITIONS AT MOKOIA. The AVhakaniara bridge on the Noonan Road is out of alignment, but beyond that, no damage of any extent is reported from Mokoia. The driver of a transport lorry from AVanganui had an unenviable experience this morning when he arrived at the bridge over the Manawapou river. Here the flood waters caught the lorry and he was marooned on the bridge, being unable to get ther vehicle one way or the other. The bridge swayed about a great deal, but the timbers withstood tly> strain and the structure did not give way. Later the vehicle was moved off the bridge, apparently little the worse for the submersion. The waters were rapidly subsiding after 2 p.m. to-day and the people who ar<j stranded at Mokoia will be able to return southwards. It is the Intention or the Automobile Association (South Taranaki) to erect a comprehensive system of detour signs, once the water has receded from the bridge, on the Ohangai Road, over the Tangahoe River. The Automobile Association has received advice that the roads from Tnupo to Rotorua, and from Te Ivuiti to New Plymouth, are all impassable.