FATAL FLOODS

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13797, 6 February 1917, Page 8

FATAL FLOODS

phenomenal downpour in THE NORTH. , FUBTHER FATALITIES REPOKTED. ■ ■•.■■-. : (Per Press ABSociatioa.) WHAXGAREI, February 5. 1 ' Floods of unprecedented severity have occurred in the north. A week's ram i culminated oil. Saturday in ,a. phenomenal downpour. The streets and houses in the. low-lyiug.parts of Whangarei were Hooded, and considerable damage was done to property; ■ Tho water Was three feet deep in itho dairy factory. / 'Grave damage was done at, the Great Wairua Falls electric station, where tho water rose eleven feet iu the power house and a portion \oii the canal was broken away. The power and lights were cut off from Whangarel, and it will possibly be six weeks before they are restored. 'Railway traffic is interrupted. The latest, victim, is Mrs Jane Chris--tie,; who lived ,at Towai.' She was re-, turning from a visit - and', was swept away by' the flood.. ' . I . "• DARGAVILLE, . February 5. There was a torrential'downpour, at Northern Wairoa on Friday night and Saturday, and the river is in heavy flood, The Kailiu creek drainage area is under .water. The .-traffic-bridge was carried away. ' . Two young' Maoris have been drowned, and. a large quantity of stock was destroyed on the Wairoa 'settlements,' which are under water,' At Kirikopuni, the store is flooded to the roof and a valuable stock was destroyed. A large quantity ,of live stock has been drowned, and farmers will suffer severely. Heavy rain again fell this morning. . Dargavillc is unaffected-/ but freshes' are expected down to-morrow. A HEAVY FALL AT AUCKLAND. (Per Press Association,) AUCKLAND, February 4. ' The rainfall in the city 'since the i .beginning of tho month totals G,l)sin,, the .fall for the 24 hours ended this morning being 5,!54 in, So far the only interruption to the railway service has been small' washouts on the Kaipara line, The rain ceased this morning, / 1 .