THE GREAT STORM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 56, 4 February 1936, Page 4

THE GREAT STORM

AUCKLAND AREA SWEPT. A HEAVY TOLL. IMMENSE DAMAGE.' Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 3. AVidespread damage was caused by the cyclonic storm which swept the Auckland province on Saturday night and yesterday. Telephone, telegraph, and power services were interrupted, roads and railways were blocked by slips, and in some areas heavy floods caused great damage. The heavy rain on Saturday was followed by tempestuous conditions during which the wind veered from east to blow a full gale from the west. At the height of the storm yesterday the barometer fell to the exceptionally low reading of 28.88. . On the Auckland waterfront about 40 small craft were either badly damaged or piled up into wreckage, while there was also heavy damage on the Manukau. where the full effect of the gale was felt when the wind changed. In suburban Auckland there were many instances of roofs being stripped, trees blown down and devastation of orchards. The storm caused the general isolation of many country districts, but to-day communication was partially restored and there began to filter through stories of great devastation and general loss. Every corner in the province suffered. Kaitaia, YVhangarei, Paeroa and Thames have suffered heavily as the result of floods. All communications with North Auckland were interrupted yesterday and roads and railway are not expected to be clear for some days. On the Ilauraki Plains and North Auckland dairy stock and sheep were drowned.

There is hardly a street in the city and suburbs that does not hear evidence of the storm.

ORCHARDS DAMAGED

Enormous damage was caused to orchards in the Henderson and Huapai districts and at Te Kauwhata, Waikato, by thd’-gale on Sunday. Hundreds of trees were uprooted or bent almost to horizontal and thousands of bushels of fruit were littered upon the ground. The extent of the loss cannot be estimated at present, but it is stated that a number of farmers are practically ruined. Most of the badly affected orchards at Henderson and Oratia report that 90 per cent, of their fruit, mostly apples and pears, has been shaken down, while the general average throughout all the districts is considered to approach 50 per cent. Nearly all this fruit is a total loss, for it is not matured enough to be sold even as “windfalls.” Individual orehardists claim that the destruction of trees and crops lias cost them sums ranging from £2OO to £SOO. ESCAPE FROM DROAVNING. Five men and three girls had a narrow escape from drowning early on Sunday morning when the 28ft. mullet boat Twilight and the launch AA’ainui were caught ill the south-west gale during the week-end and hurled high and dry on the rocks near the beacon on ltangitoto Island. The crew of the Twilight, AV. H. Howell and AV. Custis, were washed out of the cockpit of their boat and were bruised and cut through being! flung against the rooks by the huge waves. One of the three giris on the AVainui bad her ribs bruised through being jambed between the side of the launch anil its dinghy when she was swept overboard, but luckily she and her companions wel’e carried by the waves through a narrow gap in the rocks into deep water and escaped serious injury, although one of tlie party had her arm badly lacerated. Tlfe three men on tlie launch, wore not so fortunate and received both bruises and cuts. The launch was badly battered and is reported to be a complete wreck.

THE FAR NORTH. As the result of the dislocation of the means of communication it is difficult to obtain accurate information of ! the flood damage in the Northland, i but it is clear that the flooding ml many parts is the worst in living memory. Tlie railways are badly damaged j and services are at a standstill to-day. | Bridges have been washed away in i several places and largo wash-outs in some places affecting many chains of line have occurred. Sixty passengers from the express were marooned between Otiria and Knikolie on Saturday night, which was spent in the carriages. Last night they were billeted- by private people. A bridge which was carried away at AVlialtapara, fifteen miles north of AYhangarei, will, it is believed, stop rail traffic northwards for several days. Traffic to Auckland is uninterrupted though a train was held up temporarily near Tahekeroa. Campers on tlie east coast had terrifying experiences, their tents being blown away while slips prevented tlieir return to their homes. A launch had to be employed to briim- teachers and others who were holidaying down the" AVhangarei Harbour, where the wind was so fierce at one spot that the seaside cottages were carried away. Very serious damage has been done to roads and highways, on which ill many places extensive slips have taken place, * bile numerous bridges are destroyed. A very heavy expenditure is anticipated in restoring the storm damage. . . At AVaitangi tlie water rose between seven and eight feet in 20 minutes. Eight men fvlio were sleeping on the floor of the Tung Oil Company’s cookhouse hurriedly took refuge on the root, but when the structure began to move they clambered into a tree overhanging" the cookhouse which- was later carried away by the flood. No train from Auckland lias reached AVhangarei since Saturday. SHIPPING HIT. Sheep were washed overboard, an icechest weighing half a ton was carried away, and tlie deck quarters were stove in when the Ronaki and the Hauturu, two of the Northern Steamship Company’s vessels which arrived at Onehv.nga to-day, encountered the full force of the gale during the week-end. The captains of both vessels, which came from Hokianga and Pieton, stated that the storm was the severest they had ever experienced on the west coast.

The Hauturu left Picton on Saturday afternoon and was off Cape Egmont early on Sunday morning when she struck the gale from the southeast which soon increased almost to cyclonic force. Solid sheets of water were forced up into the air by the strong wind and visibility was almost non-existent. At one stage the vessel was pooped by two tremendous seas which stove in the aft quarters and the galley door, shifted the standard compass, carried away the meat sate and ice-chest weighing'half a ton, and flooded the decks to a depth of 3 feet. Members of the crew said that another sea of similar size would ha.ve sunk the vessel. The Hauturu fought through the i gale until Sunday • afternoon, being forced to heave to off Kawkia. She •

was signalled off Manukau heads at 8.15 a.m. to-day and took the bar half an hour later. "Her general cargo was undamaged. Captain Jackson Jowler never left the bridge for 48 hours. Four sheep were washed overboard and twenty died while the Ronald was riding out the gale outside Manukau Heads from early oil Sunday morning until to-day.

HAVOC AT ROTORUA.

MAORI CHURCH LOST. Per Press Asociation. ROTORUA, Feg. 3. The severest storm experienced in the memory of old residents raged throughout Saturday night and early yesterday, causing t/evere havoc in various parts of the district including the demolition of the original Maori church at Ohinemutu, which is one of the few remaining relics of former missionary days. For 24 hours proceding 9 a.m. yesterday over six inches of rain were registered and throughout the night houses rocked on their foundations and the power supply was cut off by damage done to the lines by falling trees. The old Maori church was demolished at the height of the gale about 4 a.m., when the walls caved in with a resounding crash. Yesterday morning uprooted trees and broken power lines were seen everywhere while most of the streams flowing into the lake broke their banks and inundated private property. At Tarewa, near Ohinemutu Village, the water swirled through a house from which the furniture had been hastilyremoved, while at Ngongotalia the stream rose about 15 feet, partly submerging several small outhouses, and although the water did not reach tlie floor level of one house wKich was on a high foundation, the occupants were isolated throughout the day. The Tauranga and AVhakatane routes to Rotorua were temporarily blocked by fallen trees and slips, but these had been cleared sufficiently by last night to allow traffic to proceed. Many settlers in more exposed positions experienced a terrifying night. At Te Ngae a milking shed was unroofed. The weather has now cleared and today there were definite indications of an improvement.

THE THAMES VALLEY

FLOODS WREAK DAMAGE

Per Press Association. THAMES, Feb. 2.

The worst flood for many yeu/s in Thames caused thousands of pounds of damage between two and three o’clock this morning, when tlie flood waters of the Karaka Creek, which flows through the centre of the town, swept the northern Pollen Street and Grahamstown areas, as a result of phenomenal rain, six inches in 24 hours accompanying the cyclonic storm. The conditions were reminiscent of the flood iu 1917, when 13 inches fell in 48 hours.

By 2 o’clock this morning there was high tide, all tlie streams overflowing, and where Karaka Creek runs under Pollen Street in the central portion of the town a tree caused a blockage and the flood waters swept north along Main Street through shops and houses, to a depth of over two; feet and in places over three, carrying logs and boulders, and when tlie tide fell leaving tons of silt and mud in tlie streets and properties. AVhen the waters receded this morning northern Pollen Street was a desolate scene. Many residents jumped out of bed only to find themselves in a swirling torrent with household goods floating around or carried away in the flood. The worst sufferers were _ the hotelkeepers in this area, particularly the Junction Hotel, which caught tlie main rorce of the overflow from the Karaka Creek, also the Queen’s and Park Hotels. To-day they were occupied in pumping the cellars and cleaning the channels while the shopkeepers affected were busy rendering tlieir premises fit for business. Bracmar private hospital near the mouth of the Karaka Creek was swept by neatly two feet of water with extensive damage and loss of utensils.

'flic Presbyterian * Church, lawns and gardens adjacent to the blockage in the Karaka Creek were tliq scene of ruin.

The police are advised that an elderly miner named George AA’ebster, about 16 miles north along the const, was buried in his shack by a slip.

Thames Valley centres suffered heavily. The residents of the northern approach-to Paeroa in the vicinity of Puke Bridge over the 'AVailiou River were rescued from tlie roof tops by boats.

TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR IN FAR NORTH. EXTENSIVE FLOODING.

Per Press Association. WHANGAREI, Eeb. 3. Northland, which has suffered severely from floods in recent months, underwent another trying ordeal during the week-end, floods being experienced’ in all parts of the territory, but owing to the interruption of telegraphic and telephonic communication, accurate information is not available. Whangarei, which had escaped the majority of floods that have caused damage in other districts, got its full share on this occasion. Rain which iell steadily all Saturday morning increased to torrential dimensions during the afternoon with the result that all streams were swollen to bank level. The lain increased in volume as the evening appioached and this, added to the high tide, caused, waterways to break their banks. As a. consequence, the main streets liec-ame roaring cataracts, while in the lower portions of the business area shops and offices were invaded, much damage being done. The Whangarei Dairy Company’s Factory, which is situated on the bank of the Waiorahia Stream, was inundated, the water being four to five feet deep in the boiler room. Some lorries were removed to i safety, but two liad l>een left and were entirely covered by water for some hours. The Victoria Bridge, over the Hatea River, was in danger of being carried away owing to the accumulation • of | debris against the piles. A new bridge in course of construction alongside was also endangered, but both were eventual Iv saved. One picture theatre was unable to open, water flowing over the floor. In another the water rose during the performance and patrons had to wade or be pick-a-backed to vehicles in the street.

The rain, which increased in volume till the early hours of Sunday morning, was followed by a fierce gale, | which wrought havoc in gardens, shrubberies, and orchards. A big slip at Parua Bay lias cut off communication down the harbour, the telegraph and telephone wires being broken. The floor of the power house at Purua Falls, whence Whangarei 1 obtains its electricity, was twelve feet below the level of the river, but remained dry. i The rainfall at Whangarei for tlie ; 24 hours ending 9 o’clock this morn- 1 i mg was 11.41 inches. For 33 days j : of this year Whangarei’s rainfall has ! totalled 21.76 inches. The week-end ; downpour was the heaviest registered j 5 I for twenty years. '

STORM IN WAIKATO.

RIVER RUNNING HIGH

Per .Press Association. HAMILTON, Feb. 3. The severity of the storm in Hamilton over the week-end is emphasised by the fact tliat_for the first time in tfie history of the town telephone communications with all parts of the North Island have been interrupted for varying intervals, broken trees, floods and slips throughout the district causing dislocation. The emergency wireless was commissioned to communicate with. Auckland and the Bay of Plenty during the interruptions. .... The Waikato River, which is still rising rapidly, is ten feet above normal, and it is at the highest level since the 1907 flood. All low-lying areas are under water and several buildings are inundated. WAIKATO TRAGEDY.

VEHICLE LEAVES ROAD. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Feb. 3. By a car plunging over a steep bank on a slippery clay road near Te Mata, Raglan, Hanui Rangiawlia, aged 56, a well-known Aotea slieepfarmer, received injuries to which ho succumbed. Deceased, who was driving a lialf-ton truck when the accident occurred, had set out to go to Napier but decided to turn back home on account of the wet weatlier. AA'hile negotiating the road on the return trip the truck skidded and went over tlie bank. Rangiawlia was severely crushed and died a few hours later, but two passengers in the truck escaped injury. An interruption to the Arapuni transmission lines caused flood waters to enter the shaft where two new units were being constructed. LAUNCH MISSING. A TRAGEDY FEARED. Per Press Association. «*. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 3. Little hope* remains of rescuing alive the crew of tli launch Mokau which has been missing since Saturday night's storm with the owner, Mr McLeod, and liis son Angus McLeod aboard. A seaplane from Hobsonville base and a Viekers-Vildcbeste bomber were engaged in a search of the sea north and south of New Plymouth, but no trace of the missing craft was seen. All other launches have been accounted for; the Campbell, a 45ft launch, returned safely this afternoon from tiie north coast.

Taranaki was busy to-day repairing the damage to buildings, fences,- anil roads, but in some eases weeks will be occupied in repairs. Opunake is isolated so far as rail and road comniunii-a-cation are concerned, the bridges being washed away on tlie main road both north and south while one span of a small railway bridge collapseil. The main* road to Wellington was opened tliii# afternoon by the use of detours. The main road to Auckland was also open. The Stratford main trunk railway is still closed bv- slips and 'may not be open for some days. The main east road is blocked in tlie Tangarakau gorge.

SERIES OF SLIPS.' STRATFORD MAIN TRUNK. Per- Press Association. - TAUMARUNCI, Feb. 3. It is reported that there are no fewer than 14 slips on the Stratford Mailt Trunk line between Tangarakau and Mangaparo. The worst slip is about a chain wide and 20 fet deep, the cutting being filled up with trees. There is no hope of the line being open for traffic till the end of the week. Many roads in the Tamnarunui district are blocked with slips, but otherwise there is 110 serious damage. STORM AT WAIROA. HEAVY DAMAGE. Per Press Association.

WAIROA, Feh. 3

As a result of heavy rain on Saturday evening and early on Sunday, the river is in' high Hood. An upreared branch of a tree carried away a high tension wire crossing the Wairoa River and as a result the town has been without light and power since midday yesterday. The service is not likely to i»e restored to-day. It is also reported that the main transmission line from the lake was carried away in a number of places by falling trees. Yesterday afternoon the wind veered from north to south, and a terrific gale —one of the heaviest ever experienced —continued well into the night. A large amount of damage was done to orchard*, gardens and plantations, trees being uprooted. Glass skylights uere torn out and thrown fifty yards away, and minor damage was done to many business places. .S.ips have taken place in all parts of the country. There is no telephone communication north or south. The-main highway is n: a bad state and lines are down in all directions.

Charles McLean, of Napier, had a remarkable escape from serious accident when traversing the road from Napier to Wairoa last evening. A huge poplar tree fell a few yards in front of hits car, and only by sending the car into reverse did he avoid being underneath the tree as it fell to the roadway. It was rather a coincidence that last night’s visitation occurred on practically the same ■ date as the disastrous earthquake on February 3, 1931.

BUILDINGS WRECKED. Per Press Association. WAIROA, Feb. 3. Advice just received from flic Opoutama seaside resort shows that the gale was felt most severely. A fine concrete residence owned by Mr Harkcr (Mayor of Wairoa) lost its roof about 9 o’clock last night; then the walls completely collapsed, the whole building beingrazed to the ground. Mr Harker lost a milking shed and plant at Clydebank, The roof of the house owned by Archdeacon Butterfield was last seen careering in its entirety out to sea, whilst numerous portions of other buildings were- blown as much as a quarter of a mile away. \

GISBORNE FORTUNATE. PRACTICALLY UNSCATHED. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Feb. 4. Gisborne emerged from Sunday’s storm practically unscathed, no damage being reported m the town itself, while the country districts, 'as far as can be ascertained, escaped lightly. The greatest inconvenience was caused by the disruption of the telegraph and telephone services, communication with outside districts being entirely cut off until 3.30 p.m. yesterday. A number of slips occurred on the main highways and other mads on Sunday, but the main routes are now all open. ,

IN HAWKE'S BAY. DAMAGE TO ORCHARDS. Per Press Association. HASTINGS, Feb. 3. The estimate of the damage done by the storm to orchards in the Hawke’s Pay district made at the height of the Storm, when appearances were particularly unfavourable, has since been possible of revision. The amended opinion of responsible authorities is that a good deal of the damage to tire trees is not irreparable and export totals will not be reduced by more than 30 per cent. The district’s orchards were carrying an uncommonly heavy crop and drastic thinning out by "wind still leaves reasonably heavy crops. • Communications in the affected Hawke’s Btiy area are being steadily improved. Roads are now open, except those in the more seriously flooded areas, but alternative routes are available. Telephone communication with Wellington and Palmerston North is available via Auckland. There is a normal service as far as Daunevirke in the south and Wairoa in the, north, while one circuit is. available to Gisborne. It is believed that by to-morrow telephone toll tratfic will be normal. There are at present 600 country telephone lines in the vicinity of Hastings out of action. Morse telegraphy to all parts of the Dominion was in operation at 7 o’clock this evening. Many tree save down in Napier as a result of the gale reaching 60 miles an hour. Considerable damage has been done to plants, and electric light and telephone lines are out of order in many places. A large area of land near Clive is under water, but the level has receded greatly since last night and traffic to the south has been resumed on the main road.

The A. and P. Society lost 500 sheep and Pernio Bros. 1000. Other losses are not ascertainable. Ruinous damage was done in the Pakowhai fruitgrowing area, where some orohardists suffered severely and others escaped heavy damage. A moderate estimate of tiie loss in that area is £60,000. 'The railway traffic was resumed after two hours ’delay, caused by slight damage to the line six miles out.

No damage is reported to bridges, but plant has been washed away from bridge works in progress. Water swept over the plains with terrifying suddenness and in places the flood level was higher than at any similar visitation since 1597.

DISASTROUS FLOOD. WAIPUKURAU’S VISITATION. Per Press Association. WAIPUKURAU, Feb. 3. The most disastrous hood in the history of Waipukurau occurred yesterday afternoon following 24 hours’ heavy rain throughout the district. The Tukituki River broke its banks and swept to distraction thousands of head of sheep and cattle, and caused great damage to property and inundated the whole! of the residential section of the town on the northern side of tho main street.

Seventy families were driven from their homes, in which the water rose to a height of three feet. Women and children had to be helped to safety through streets four feet deep in water. Simultaneously a terrific gale uprooted hundreds of trees.

'The invasion of the residential area occurred with amazing sudeennessBetween 2 o’clock and 2.30 boats and big lorries were used to rescue marooned householders. The flood was at its height at 4 pan. From then on the water subsided rapidly. Power was restored at 7 pan. Homeless families were given clothing and shelter by those more fortunately situated, and this morning householders were faced with the heartbreaking task of making their homes fit for occupation. Silt eoveied floors and furniture, much of which was ruined. Hoses were used to clean out the rooms.

THE SOUTHERN AREA. < HIGHWAY BLOCKED. Per Press Association. DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 3. During the week-end Dannevirke experienced its worst storm for many years, over 4in of rain falling in 48 hours. A south-easterly gale did some damage, but it was mostly of a minor nature. Rivers and streams broke their banks, and bridges in the country area were carried away, the damage being assessed at about £3OOO. The Te Rehunga district fared worst. A big slip came down on the Welling-ton-Napier highway beyond Matamau, traffic having to be diverted via Mnkotuku, which was flooded, but the use of a private road*permitted vehicles to get through. Southern Hawke’s'Bay got off comparatively lightly.

DAMAGE IN HOROWIIENUA

BUILDINGS LEVELLED.

Per Press Association. OTAKI, Feb. 3. Sunday’s gale did consierable damage to sheds and power, lines, verandahs, and chimneys. The Parish Hall and the blacksmith’s shop at Jlannkipi were leveloled to the ground. All parts of the district were affected. It is beautifully fine to-day.

THE STORM CENTRE. IN THE NORTH. - WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. At the height of yesterday’s storm the velocity of the wind in Wellington reached 68 miles an hour. The following report on the weather was supplied last night by the meteorological office, Kelburn: • On Tuesday evening a tropical cyclone was reported near Vila, in the New Hebrides. This moved' slowly southward until oil Saturday morning it was centred north of Norfolk Island, and Was deep. During the following twenty-four hours it moved southward very rapidly, and at the same time deepened. Yesterday morning at 9 o’clock the centre was near Kawhia. The pressure at Auckland yesterday morning was 28.76 inches, and at the centre it must have been lower. Saturday was overcast at Wellington with a light south-south-east wind, which gradually freshened during the afternoon, and after a lull between 3 o’clock and 4 it increased rapidly, reaching gale force with gusts up to 60 miles an hour by 8 p.m. A southerly wiud of gale force continued throughout the night, and yesterday the maximum gusts recorded were two of 68 -and 67 miles an hour between 11.30 and 12 in the morning. Rain commenced with a light drizzle at 8 p.m. on Saturday and increased to a steady downpour by 8.45 p.m. By 4 p.m. yesterday 4.43 in. was registered at Kelburn', and the rain was continuing.

TWO LIVES LOST, TRAGEDIES IN WAIRARAPA. YOUTHS MEET DEATH. FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL BOY. Per Press Association. MASTERTON, Feb. 3. Two Masterton lads lost their lives as a result of Sunday’s storm. James Wilson, the 15-year-okl son of Mr and Mrs James Wilson, of Waingawa, left home in company with five other youths on Saturday afternoon on a deerstalking expedition to Stronvar. Three members of the party, including deceased, went into the bush on Saturday evening but soon lost their way, a thick mist rendering visibility very difficult.

The party, which had no food and was poorly clad for the ordeal, decided to spend the night in the bush. Next morning at dawij the members started to follow a fence line in the hope of clearing the hush, but a heavy storm broke, further adding to the troubles of the youths. The howling gale frequently smashed down trees in their path and they battled on feeling rather than seeing their way. Wilson began to show signs of weakness and one of his friends relieved him of his rifle.

Tlie party had gone some distance walking about twenty yards behind one another when it was found that Wilson was missing. Shots were fired and calls repeatedlv made, but without any response. The two youths then retraced their steps to the spot where Wilson was last seen, but the search, which was greatly impeded by thick bush and fog. proved fruitless. Thinking that Wilson had succeeded in finding a short cut back to camp the youths continued on, but were unable to get out, and spent another unenviable night in the bush. About 11 a.m. they succeeded in making their way out to a sheep station where they secured much-needed food. They then went by car to where they had struck camp on Saturday night, expecting to find Wilson there. When they found that nothing had been heard of him a search party was organised and later in the day his body was found lying in the fern a short distance from where his friends last saw him. The lad, who wus clad in a shirt, trousers and sandshoes, apparently died from exposure on Sunday night. An inquest will be held. He was employed by the Oppenlieimer Casing Companv at Waingaw.jj,. HIGH SCHOOL BOY’S END. Eric Wallace Groves, tlie 16-year-old son of Mr and Mrs H. G. Groves, of Tinui, a well-known Wairarapa family, was killed tliis afternoon when helping to cut a big branch from a tree that had been damaged by the gale. The branch was cut down, but it rebounded and the end struck deceased on the side of his head and broke his neck.

The lad was a pupil of the Feilding Agricultural High School and was to have left to-day to commence his first term. On his own suggestion, however, he remained to help clear up the storm damage.

WAIRARAPA FLOODS. RIVERS NOW FALLING. SLIPS BLOCK ROADS. Per Press Association. MASTERTON, Feb. 3. In bright, warm sunshine Wairarapa residents to-day surveyed the widespread damage resulting from Sunday’s storm. In and around Masterton the rivers had fallen" considerably by this afternoon, while much of the surface water had disappeared. Slips and washouts, .however, have rendered many back country roads, particularly towards the east coast, impassable, ft Is anticipated that in some cases it will take a week or two to clear the debris.

About twenty Masterton families

are isolated at Castlepouit, a popular seaside resort, as fourteen miles of the road from Cnstlepoint to Masterton is not negotiable, even to horses, and it will be necessary to pack foodstuffs across country. , The fears entertained by Lower Valiev settlers of a serious flood were realised to-day, when the waters from the swollen northern rivers reached the low-lying country around Lake Wairarapa. The lake was rising steadily to-day, but fortunately the outlet at the lake ferry is still open, allowing the waters to run freely, lne settlers had sufficient warning and it is not anticipated that there will be sny serious stock losses. A serious flood in January or February is almost unprecedented in the South Wairarapa. To date for this financial year the Masterton County Council has already spent £3OOO repairing damage to roads as a result of floods and heavy ram, and is now faced with further heavy expenditure, the bridge on the Langd’ale road having collapsed and several roads are blocked. GALE AT EKETAHUNA, The storm at Eketahuna yesterday did considerable damage to plantations and fences, and Waterren’s garage, containing two lorries .and a car was completely wrecked. The doors blew open, and the wind lifted the root bodilv. The back and side walls with portion of the front wall, collapsed. The river flooded higher than ever previously recorded. Passengers on the Napier excursion train were transhipped by bus, owing to a blockage on the luie.

TELEGRAPH SERVICES.

GRADUAL RESTORATION.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. Although there is scarcely a telegraph route in the North Island which has not been affected by the gale hopes are entertained by tile Post and Telegraph Department that the delay in communication to-morrow will not be appreciable. , An official said to-night that Vel lington had then been able to get into communication with all the principal towns in the North Island Temporal y repairs had been effected, he said, but the permanent repairs would take some da vs. Wellington was working on four outlets to Auckland two via the Vert Coast and two via the East Coast, and it was hoped to obtain additional outlets to Auckland early to-morrow morning.