TORRENTIAL RAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 April 1924, Page 4

TORRENTIAL RAIN

ESSSSK’CSiv’' ■. . . —S-iA i AT TAUMARUNUI

“HEAVIEST IN HISTORY

United Press Association.)

TAUMARUNUI, April 5.

This morning Taumarunui and disliicl experienced the heaviest flood in it. history. Torrential rain fell ail night, ancl early this morning the Wanganui River commenced to rise rapidly. The current was cut off from the electric works at Firiaka at 7.30, when the water was within two feet of the powerhouse. No damage lias been done to the plant, which stood the unprecedented flood excellently. About 9.30 o'clock the river began to rise alarmingly, and reached within a foot of the power-house. The water also rose quickly in the low-lying areas of Taumarunui, and by 10 o’clock more than half the Recreation Ground was covered with a sheet of water, and houses on the flat and at Matapuna were surrounded.

Several slips and washouts have taken place on the railway line between Taumarunui and Ohakune. Four goods trains are held up along the line. The usual 7 a.m. train leaving Taumarunui for southern stations did not depart at 1L.30 a.in. So far no slips are reported north of Taumarunui.

Reports from Kakahi state that tho Wanganui and Whakapara Rivers make a gigantic volume of water, and there are losses of stock. The bridge at Kakahi, the'property of Watkins Bros., sawmillers was washed away, and the loss is estimated at £2OOO. Other smaller bridges have also disappeared in the flood waters

The Wanganui River has risen nine feet above normal. The bridge connecting Winters Island with the mainland at Taumarunui stood the strain until 10 o'clock, when it- was washed away. The rain ceased about 9.30 this morning, and the flood - has now reached its highest point, and is expected to recede scon. , .

SEVERAL BRIDGES DESTROYED

SERIOUS DAMAGE AT PUHOI

AUCKLAND, April 5. Reports from Puhoi (35 miles north of Auckland) state that, the bridge over the river Puhoi was washed away. The three main bridges from Puhoi to Ahura have been destroyed, and ' the mam bridge at Puhoi on the road to Upper Waiwera have been washed away. Land slips have come down everywhere, and half of the grass-sown lands are laid waste. The Puhoi wharf and goods sheds were demolished. There were five feet of water in the Post Office, which is- behind a store, yesterday, but the water has since fallen to normal. The damage is estimated at £25,000.

FURTHER LOSSES REPORTED

AUCKLAND, This Day. Later reports of the North Auckland floods show that Puhoi township, the centre of the old Bohemian settlement near the East Coast, about 30 miles north of Auckland, suffered most severely. The river rose rapidly at one period to the extent of 17 feet in 40 minutes, and flooded the township. The new wharf and store were swept away. Iho building contained about £SOO worth of goods just lauded. The public library was washed out-, with about £2OO worth of new books. About 100,000 feet of baulk and sawn timber was carried out to . sea. The most serious damage for the province is that the drawbridge,, in course of reconstruction on the Great North Road close to the township was destroyed. This will block the main line of motor traffic for months ' Courageous acts were performed within a few minutes by a young man named Victor Schiska, in swimming three times through the torrent to rescue from drowning the postmaster (Mr Scholium) and James Titford and his son, who had lingered in their business premises until there was over seven feet of water on their floors. , Altogether it is estimated that the damage in Puhoi township reaches to between £25.000 and £30,000. News from Whitianga would indicate that a cloudburst struck the Coromandel range on Mercury Bay sida and sent lawe bodies of water down the various streams. A number of bridges have been swept away, and several settlers fost. much stock. \ ... The rain has continued at. Helensville, where the breakdown gang are doing good work in clearing railway obstiuotions under difficult conditions • Waimauku is flooded and rain is still falling there. One beekeeper had sixty hives washed away.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £50,000

AUCKLAND, This Day. Damage by flood to main highways •’lid bridges north of Auckland is estimated by the County Engineer at £SO 000 Hon. J. C. Coates puts th© damage on the Wliangarei-Hauraki section of the North Auckland railway at £6OOO. The damage is most extensive in Otamatea, Hobson and Whangarei Counties. Further North tho floods are less serious. in© damage in Mangonui, Whangaroa, and Hokianga Counties is not extensive. The Public Works Department will be liable for a £ for £ subsidy in respect of all flood damage. \ The fringe of the floods and. tile sweep of damage begins about five miles beyond Helensviile. Travel by road is hazardous between Kaukapakapa, and Topuni. About 40 miles of railv ay track are affected, and some parts are badly damaged. The Taheakeroa tunnel is blocked at both ends by fairly heavy landslips. A gang of 80 i ail way me i and navvies did excellent work repairing the damage to_ the railway line in the vicinity of Kaupapakapa. There is little prospect of a resumption of the through tram service till Thursday. The line beyond Tahekeroa tunnel is under water. More or less damage was done at Wayby, 69 miles north of Auckland, and serious damage at Tahana (75 miles), and Tepuni (79 miles north).

DAIRY FARMERS ISOLATED

NO CREAM TO FACTORY

AUCKLAND, This Day. Three hundred dairy farmers in Lower Kaipara are completely isolated from the factory at Helensviile and have been unable to get their cream there since Thursday last. Their output is equal to £4BO daily. No serious loss of stock is reported, so far, though several herds are known to be isolated.

RAPID RISE OF WATERS

AUCKLAND, This Day. Several incidents connected with the tour of the flooded regions by the Hon.

J. G. Coates serve to indicate how rapid was the rise of the flood waters. On Thursday an unpleasant experience befell the Minister’s private stenograpner, ill's -N. T. Churches, who set out from Dargavillo by car at 10 a.m., with the object of joining the Minister at Whangarei. - The car was proceeding in pouring rain along the Houto road when the engine stopped as tho car was fording a water-logged stretch. Efforts to get the engine going failed, the water having entered the carburettor. Mrs Churches waded to dry land while a team of horses was procured to drag the car out. The water rose rapidly until it over the floor. It was then discovereu that the travellers were marooned, as the flood had covered tho road behind them. It was impossible to get the car lack and the only way out was to traverse the miniature lake on horseback. Upon this being satisfactorily accomplished Mrs Churches proceeded hack to the township she had left some hours previously, and was made as comfortable as" possible at a store. She was later conveyed to Dargavillo by car. jour other cars were marooned at the same spot in the afternoon.

DAMAGE IN STRATFORD DISTRICT

STRATFORD,'THis Day. The recent heavy rains have caused great damage to roads in the Stratford district and in the back country. Between Pohokura and Whangamomoa a mile of standing hush fell across the line and the train was 'prevented from proceeding bevond Pohokura. Passengers stayed in tho train an Saturday night. Slips on the road are serious. Telephone and telegraph poles are down and it is doubtful if road communication can be restored within a week. Railway and telegraph men are busy clearing slips. " . .... ■' ■