FLOODS IN TARANAKI

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4961, 27 February 1937, Page 5

FLOODS IN TARANAKI

NO FURTHER FLOOD DAMAGE. SLIPS ON MOUNT MESSENGER. Rain which continued to drench Taranaki yesterday had, at a late hour last night, failed to create further flood damage. Beginning with a steady drizzle early yesterday morning the rain continued practically without abating all day and during last ight. Rivers ran. high throughout Taranaki, but it was evident that the first danger had passed. The Main South Road from Te Kuiti, the scene of desolation near Uruti at the height of the flooding, is now entirely clear and service cars reached New Plymouth from the north on schedule last evening, drivers reporting that there was no water on the roads. Inconvenience is being caused motorists between Otorohanga and Te Awamutu, where the highway is being extensively repaired. Cars became bogged yesterday and were hauled through the morass by a tractor. Considerable damage was done to the new road formation work between Uruti and Mount Messenger, and there were, several washouts of metal on the Mangahia Road. During the flood's rapid rise it was thought that the large concrete bridge on the main road at Uruti might suffer damage, as a crack of a few inches appeared in one approach. Although the bridge is still intact it has been considerably weakened, and the approaches will be repaired almost immediately.

Slips have occurred on the Moki, Pehu and Tangitu roads, and the settlers have been greatly inconvenienced. The Whangamomona road was reported to be blocked by a slip three miles from the township. No report has been received of slips in the Tangarakau Gorge, but the surface at the Tahora end is difficult to negotiate after the rain. Service cars were delayed for a considerable time to-day on account of slips on Mount Messenger, which have to be negotiated vei-y carefully.