Roads Impassable

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 2

Roads Impassable

QUICK REPAIR WORK Fron Our Own Correspondent* HASTINGS, Feb. 19. Roads surrounding Napier and Hastings suffered extensively in the heavy rainfall last evening, with the result that this morning several of them were impassable, although the damage in most cases is of a nature which will permit repair work to be completed quickly. In addition, other roads are covered in low-lying places by surface water which will delay travellers, while not blocking progress altogether. Both the Napier-Taupo and the Napier-Gisborne main highways were reported blocked this morning. Slips and flood water covered the roads quite near Napier, and it is not known whether there are further slips beyond this on the former highway. The road at Eskdale was impassable owing to deep water in a dip in the road, but the water is draining away well, and it was anticipated that this section would be clear some timed uring the morning. On the hill road near Eskdale there is an extensive slip, and the lower road is flooded. Most of the land in the vicinity is beneath water to a small depth, but no serious damage has been reported. At Tangoio the water rose rapicuy during the night, but drained away very quickly this morning. The mail truck from Gisborne was stopped this morning by a slip near the Tangoio scenic reserve, but was able to proceed later in the morning. Beyond this point the highway to Gisborne is reported to be difficult but passable. The Hawke’s Bay Motor Co. reported later this morning that their car had been reported past Te Pohue. There were several minor slips on the NapierTaupo road, and the road generally was greasy and difficult to negotiate. Apart, however, from a large slip at the Mohaka bridge, which had later been cleared, there was nothing to prevent the road being passed with care. Water from the Ohiwia stream had flowed over the road at Okawa, rendering it impassable. The roads from Napier via Pakowhai and Femhill are impassable, and the Famdon-Pakowhai road is also under water. The Clifton road is blocked owing to damage to the Clifton bridge. The Puketapu-Dartmoor road is blocked owing to the flooding of the Tutaekuri over a low section of the road near Mr. Phil Drummond’s property. The water is too deep for cars to negotiate, and may remain so far some time. The Swamp road between Puketapu and Fernhill has also a lot of water on it and is impassable. The Havelock-Waimarama road is blocked by a slip at the top of the hill near Undercliffe. In the same locality, the Hawea road is blocked by a fairly small slip. Poplar Avenue is impassable owing to water over the road and fields in the locality. As the result of a slip at Mr. W.

Dysart’s property, the Crownthorpe settlement is completely blocked in as all three outlets are now cut off. This slip will not be cleared before Monday.