SERIOUS FLOODING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 July 1935, Page 5

SERIOUS FLOODING

AUCKLAND AND DISTRICT NORTH COMMUNICATION CUT OFF RAIN STILL FALLING (By Telegraph— Prosß Association) ! AUCKLAND, This Day. jin tiie wake of a phenomenal rainfall on Sunday and early yesterday morning serious flooding is reported from many places in the city and suburbs, as well as from country districts both in the north and the south of Auckland. In many suburbs of Auckland gardens and backyards bore evidence of the extraordinary rainfall but for the most part residences did not suffer any extensive damage or their occupants great inconvenience. All road and rail communication between Auckland and the north has been cut off by a series of floods, slips and washouts between Warkworth and Maungaturoto, which have rendered all routes impassable. Advice received at a late hour last night was that rain was still falling heavily, that flood waters in most cases continued to rise and that it was most improbable that any traffic could get through until late in the day. At least the worst flood for many years is reported to have occurred near the Hoteo railway station. The line was covered to a depth of three feet at (i p.m. and was still rising at that time. The railway bridge over the Hoteo river, the planking of which is normally eight feet above the water level, was covered. ROAD AND RAIL TO WHANGAREI BLOCKED WHANGAREI, This Day. Continuous heavy rain amounting to over six inches in the past 48 hours has accentuated traffic dislocation between Wliangarei and Auckland, road and rail communication being completely blocked. This position is likely to outain for several days, an inundation varying up to a depth of six feet covering the track for a distance of five miles between Wayby and Hoteo with a 300 yard slip at the latter place causing an indefinite holdup of the railway connection, while slips in the Dome Valley prevent main highway travel. No serious trouble is reported from districts in the far north. The rainfall this month in the Wliangarei area is already two inches above the July average.