REAL CLOUDBURST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 156, 17 June 1936, Page 9

REAL CLOUDBURST

Road and Rail Services Interrupted BAY OF PLENTY STORM (By Telegraph—Special to “Tribune.*) WHAKATANE, June 16. As the result of exceptionally heavy rains to-day, described as a genuine cloudburst, rail and road communication between Whakatano and Tauranga was interrupted. The scene of the flooding was between Pongakawa and Maniatutu, where a washout on the railway line is reported, and it is also feared that some damage has been done to a bridge. The real position cannot be ascertained, however, until the flood-waters subside, as this evening they still covered the line. The inspector of permanent ways expects to be able to begin repair work to-morrow. The road on the other side of the wash-out is also reported to be under water, but arrangements were made by the authorities to provide a temporary service by means of motor lorries. Within a few minutes of the beginning of the rain, water poured down the valley in a rolling torrent and covered the road. All the flat land was covered by water and torrents, the colour of pea-soup were pouring down all the unmetalled side roads. The same conditions prevail within a mile or two of Te Puke, where moderately heavy rain fell. Several culverts were washed away and the stream has been temporarily bridged with planks. An exceptionally heavy hailstorm was experienced at Manawahe this morning, but beyond several wash-outs on the roads no damage has been reported.