FLOOD IN NORTH AUCKLAND.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 August 1936, Page 6

FLOOD IN NORTH AUCKLAND.

BRIDGE 17 FEET UNDER WATER. . HIGH TIDES AND TORRENTIAL RAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WHANGAREI, Last Night. Northland to-day experienced its first flooding of major dimensions since January of this year. The winter had been remarkably free from heavy rain and some of the normally wettest months have recorded a very small fall. Mild and humid rain began on Tuesday. Although it was fairly light in Whangarei, Otamatea and other districts were well drenched. Last night a cold wind sprang up, accompanied hy a heavy downpour,- which continued till this afternoon, when it ceased, and fears of flooding subsided so far as Whangarei was concerned. Floods at Way by held up the Auckland express, which eventually got through, reaching Whangarei two hours late. Floods throughout the north interfered with road traffic, most of the services being stopped, though the 'interruption is not expected to be of lengthy duration. There are three feet of water on the road in the Maungaturoto district.

Six inches of rain in 24 hours fell at Kaikohe and in some places the flood waters are as deep as those recorded last Christmas.

There was a torrential downpour in the West Coast area and the Euawai flats, near Dargaville, are suffering one of the worst floods in many years, hundreds of acres of pasture being inusdated. Several cowsheds are under water and bobby calves have found sanctuary on the tops of haystacks. In the Maungakahia valley the Pakotai birdge is 17 feet under water. The service car coming south got through just in time. Most of the traffic holdups are due to a combination of high tides and heavy rain.

MINOR FLOODING IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Last Night, Severe flooding in many parts of North Auckland with a consequent j interruption of rail and road services and stock losses in some districts fallowed torrential rain which fell throughout the northern part of the province on Friday and Saturday. The rain ceased on Saturday night in most parts and with fine weather to-day there was a marked improvement, the flood waters receding as rapidly as they had risen. The rainfall in the city for 48 hours ended at midnight on Saturday was 6.39 inches, 4.14 inches having fallen since midnight on Friday. There was minor flooding in the city and suburbs. Heavy rain fell south of Auckland, particularly in the Franklin district, but the flooding was of a minor nature and no damage was reported.