WET WEEK-END

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1935, Page 6

WET WEEK-END

OVER 2! INCHES OF RAIN WHANGAREI AND SOUTH SUFFERS. RAILWAY BLOCKED. Heavy rain fell in Whangarei and in districts to the south yesterday and last night, but no damage of a serious nature has been reported. Little rain fell in the Far North, and the weak spots in the highway at Kawakawa and in the Mangakahia have not been affected. Practically no rain fell at Kawakawa. The Dargaville road is also clear and traffic is normal. The stationmaster at Whangarei reported this morning that the railway from Auckland had not been subjected to any slips or flooding, and that all. trains were running to timetable. Later it was reported that water was over the rails at Way by. Rain commenced to fall in Whangarei yesterday morning and continued throughout the day, becoming heavier in the afternoon and evening.

Up till 9 o’clock this morning 2.69 in. of rain was recorded in Whangarei for the preceding 24 hours, while at Ruatangata 2in. fell, making the total there for the month 5.51 in.

The fall . was exceptionally heavy just south of Whangarei, especially in the Waipu and Maungaturoto districts. Creeks are high, and there is a slip in the Maungaturoto Gorge which is blocking traffic. Rain was still falling aj Maungaturoto this morning, but the clouds had lifted at Waipu and there were prospects of the weather clearing. In Whangarei this morning the sky was still overcast and rain was falling. The downpour was heavy between eight and nine o’clock and there was a rush on taxis and buses. Church attendances suffered considerably last night owing to the wet.

UNDER WATER

KEAY’S DEVIATION. SEVEN OR EIGHT FEET DEEP. The water rose rapidly just on the Whangarei side of Mareretu, on Keay’s Deviation, this morning. This afternoon it was too deep for lorries to negotiate. It is estimated that the water is seven or eight feet deep. AUCKLAND ROAD BLOCKED. BIG DOME VALLEY SLIP. THROUGH TRAFFIC NOT ADVISED. [Special to "Northern Advocate”] AUCKLAND, This Day. The Automobile Association advised at noon today that a big slip had come down in the Dome Valley, completely blocking all traffic. It is not anticipated that the debris will be cleared today, and the A.A. advises motorists against any attempt to get through to Auckland. Owing to flooding at Kaipara Flats, the alternative route via Port Albert is blocked. A later message stated that water was over the road and railway at Wayby and that a small slip had come down. The morning train from Maungaturoto was half an hour late arriving at Auckland. HEAVY RAIN IN AUCKLAND CONDITIONS MOST UNPLEASANT. [Special to “Northern Advocate .”! AUCKLAND, This Day. •Auckland awoke this morning to the accompaniment of heavy rain. It poured all night and continued to fall in torrents during the day. People were loath to leave their beds and set out for work, because, apart from many suburbs being practically flooded, the wind was bitterly cold. Oilskins and sou’-westers were the order of the day, and almost everyone carried an umbrella. Even the women left off their light clothes and stepped out in sensible attire. In order to try to dodge the rain, people ran from one side of the street to the other and called the weather all sorts of unmentionable names. On the harbour, ferryboats danced about in a most uncomfortable fashion; while cars and buses in the streets splashed .water in all directions as they moved along. Early this afternoon, the sun made its appearance for a few seconds, but it soon faded behihd dark clouds and heaw rain set in again. In Mt. Albert the residents of some houses watched the water rising all night, and this they were practically marooned. The Takapuna racecourse was completely covered by water, banked up by a high tide. The rainfall for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 3.82 in, and for the month to date 6.91 in, which is considerably above the July average. OVER FOUR INCHES THREAT TO WARKWORTH BRIDGE Reports from Warkworth state that 4.1 inches of rain fell between 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. today. The main road is flooded in places and erosion has occurred on both sides of the river, giving rise to anxiety for the safety of the Warkworth bridge. Meat in London.