Floods, Slips, Widespread In Southern Areas

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 6

Floods, Slips, Widespread In Southern Areas

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day. ALTHOUGH NORTHLAND ESCAPED VERY LIGHTLY, ACCORDING TO REPORTS RECEIVED IN AUCKLAND CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE WAS DONE BY THE STORM WHICH PASSED OVER THE NORTH ISLAND ON SATURDAY AND EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING. The .Main Trunk railway was blocked on Sahmlay night, and Irakis which left Auckland and Wellington on Saturday were held, up until last night. There were extensive slips and washouts between To Kuiti and Taihape.

*> The New Plymouth branch line was also seriously affected, many slips occurring between Matiere and Ohakukura. Railway Line Blocked. It was stated yesterday that no traffic would be possible on this line for several days, and that passengers for Taranaki would be taken through IVlarton. According to reports received by the Automobile Association all routes to Wellington via the West Coast or the centre of the island are blocked. Taranaki roads suffered particularly severely, and some will be closed for weeks. The Te Kuiti-New Plymouth, Te Kuiti-National Park, Taupo-National Park, Wanganui-Raetihi and TaihapeOhakune roads are all closed. The only route open to Wellington is via Taupo and Napier. Houses Evacuated. When the Wanganui River rose rapidly and burst its banks over 100 houses had to be evacuated in Taumarunui. Damage amounting to thousands of pounds was done to business and private property. Raiii began falling on Friday evening, and from then until 10 o’clock on Saturday knight, 5.8 inches of rain fell in in Taumarunui borough. At Wanganui, also, one of the severest floods the city has known caused considerable havoc. By noon yesterday, Taupo Quay, a street running parallel with the river, was flooded to a depth of two to three feet. Yellow flood water was then breaking over the banks of the river in the vicinity of the Wanganui and Union Boat Club sheds. It swirled along the thoroughfare, and the waters backed up into Victoria Avenue, and streets intersecting Taupo Quay. At high tide, after' noon, the flood was still on the make. Boats in Wanganui Streets. At the junction of Taupo Quay and Victoria Avenue, at the approach to the town bridge, traffic officials were holding back motor traffic to allow rowing boats to be rowed .along Taupo Quay from their sheds to places of safety. The railway yards at Wanganui were flooded sufficiently to cover the rails. The waters began to recede yesterday afternoon, and Taupo Quay at nightfall was left slippery with silt. It was expected that when the tide was full again at midnight there would be another flood into the quay. A report from Westport states that floods on Friday night were fairly widespread in the Buffer district. At Ngakawau, the river, which had followed a roundabout course, cut through a shingle bank and now runs straight to the sea. Part of some stone-crushing machinery and drums of oil which were on the shingle bed were carried to sea. It is reported from Taupo that the Taupo-Tokaanu main highway is blocked, to all traffic. The approaches to a small bridge about 25 miles from Taupo have been washed away for about 20 feet at both ends, .and owing to the height of the water, repairs were impossible yesterday. Record Flood. At the small township of Purangi, in Taranaki, the Waitara River rose 40 feet, five feet higher than the previous known record in 1905. Four families were removed by motor lorry to the school, where they sheltered on Saturday night. A Maori woman, Mrs Watu, over 70 years of age, who had been iff for some time, died during the removal. In Auckland the chief damage done by the storm was among yachts competing on the harbour on Saturday. Nearly 20 were capsized and others lost masts or sails.